Can we draft Kevin Love?

[CarolinaCash]

I have said that I want Russell Westbrook but I may be changing my mind to Kevin Love. I saw Paydro's article about Love losing 13 pounds and getting in shape. Kevin Love's ability is off the charts for a big man.....I haven't seen a guy throw the outlet pass like him in a long time. He can single handedly start a fast break with his patented cross court passing. He can shoot, rebound, block shots, etc. I think he would be the perfect complement to Okafor.

However, my question is with the Bobcats already making two mistakes in Sean McMay and Adam Morrison, can they afford to spend another lottery pick on a fat guy or a white guy? I would think it would have been a no brainer to pick Love if we drafted Granger or Gay/Roy instead of May and Morrison but now I'm kind of gun shy.

Would we be laughing stocks if we drafted Love? How soon will the jokes of McMay and McLovin start? I can see it now......the Bobcats select another white stiff. Those jokes could all stop though if Love turned out to be the real deal and Morrison turns out to be a solid player. (I'm giving up on May).

[BigSlam]

The Ammo effect. Said it at the time and will say it again now. Drafting him set our frachise back years - and this is a great example of one of the ways how.

We sure could use Love's super high BBIQ and passing. He's the type of guy who would get Swish and Crash easy looks because he might draw doubles and will find the open cutter plus they know they could leak out on the break and he will get the ball to them.

On the other hand, it would SUCK to take the Hawks title of the most laughed at team when it comes to drafting.

I think it boils down to:

The "safe" pick = Love

The "swing for the fences" pick - Randolph

[fatlever]

mclovin' thats fantastic.

love is #4 on my board behind beasley, rose and mayo.

i just cant buy into the theory that being american and white means you cant be a successful nba player even when you see it fail over and over and over. its like watching someone flip a coin and 15 times in a row it comes up heads 15 times in a row and you keep predicting the next one will be tails. logically there is no reason to think the odds are against you, yet it keeps coming up heads.

as for the fat part, i'm leaning towards believing that love has the drive that it takes to stay in good shape, unlike someone else i wont mention. if love stays in good shape, not even great, then i see no reason he cant be i very productive player. not a superstar or anything, but another solid piece. he seems like a winner and to me thats a very important trait.

all that being said, the love pick would definitely be met with lots of criticism. love is the most polarizing player in the draft. but, we all know that if he produces then he will shut people up and he missed 40 games his rookie season with righ knee tendanitis we will never hear the end of it from all the "i told you so types".

i say, go into the draft with a blank memory and pick the best player for the team, regardless. if that player is love. do it. if love is a bust and next year the best player is another fat white guy, i say do it again. i guess i am a slow learner.

[Rich4114]

I've heard good things about Love. He definitely seems like he's from the Brad Miller mold. A big man who can pass is ALWAYS good to have, plus it looks like he can shoot and has some decent range along with being able to rebound and block shots. He could start for us and make an immediate impact really, plus I think he's a Brown type of guy.

But we'll see, hopefully we've got the #1 pick and don't need to worry about it. #1 pick means Michael Beasley and he is a can't miss type of PF IMO.

[Paydro70]

Ehh, there's always Brad Miller.

I am of course nervous about Love, but he has a few things in his favor: 1) he's an incredible rebounder. Incredible. That will translate to the next level, it does for everyone.
2) he's got a jump shot, which is going to be really important if he's 6'8" and isn't going to jump over anybody to shoot.
3) he will at least lose weight for the sake of the combine, meaning he might be able to keep it off now that basketball is his job.

I was very down on Love as recently as a few weeks ago, and I was fully ready to compare him to Ammo. But I have subsequently come to accept the possibility that we draft him, and will at least not rue the day (unless he fails).

FOr now, however, I am focusing on positive thoughts for the lottery, which will make no difference whatsoever, but will keep me from getting too hyped/depressed about it.

[CarolinaCash]

Paydro......I'm a huge UNC fan and was a huge May fan. Those 3 things you had on your list......I could say the same thing about May leading up to the draft. He was a very good rebounder with great hands, he could shoot (not as well as Love though), and he did lose weight under Roy Williams for one year.

[Paydro70]

You're right about the rebounding, but May didn't take (and make) 3's like Love does. Everyone kind of forgets this because it happened so rarely, but when May played in the NBA, he was very good. So if Love can stay on the court, I would say that actually bodes well for him.

[CarolinaCash]

I didn't like May's NBA game. I thought he was awful defensively and he frustrated Wallace and Okafor when he played bc he didn't play D. He also became a gunner.....he would shoot a jumper or throw something else up the second he got the ball. His teammates didn't like him. He had decent number but he didn't play in the flow of the offense....it just seemed rush and awkward. I loved how he dominated down low at UNC and caught everything thrown to him. He had nice touch around the basket and could rebound.

[Paydro70]

I honestly don't care if he's a gunner, if he connects at 50% and gets to the line well. He was also a strong rebounder, as his college numbers would suggest; equal to Tyson Chandler this year, for instance. The team also played considerably better with him on the court; in fact, they played almost .500 ball with him.

If Love matches that, and doesn't get injured, I will be beyond thrilled.

[Bassman]

I also see the info on Love, and am more intrigued than previously. At 8 or 9 he might be our best option, BUT....I'd work his butt off against some good NBA players at his workout (as everyone will) to see what he can do. His DEFENSE is most questionable at the PF level.

[chrbal]

Wouldn't mind it being Kevin Love, would like to see what Larry Brown could do with him. You could do worse.

I just think we might be better off moving down in the draft if we don't land a top 3.

[Rich4114]

I'm not opposed to pulling off another J-Rich type of deal for a PF in this draft if we don't have a top 3 pick.

[Geraldmutumbo]

I think Love could be an ok pick, but we could likely package the pick with an expiring contract and get better than an ok player. If we pick him cool, but I am not sold on him being a difference maker. I don't like 6'9 4's.

[SamBone]

I'm not opposed to pulling off another J-Rich type of deal for a PF in this draft if we don't have a top 3 pick.

I agree 100%.
I would try to send Crash to the Clippers for Brand, but don't think that would happen.

If all else fails I would be fine with Love

[Walt Cronkite]

What offer, knowing what we know now, would the Clips really consider for Elton?

[chrbal]

Well, should be a little more feasable to take Love now. Yay, 9.

[Walt Cronkite]

I mean at 7/9 they take one of the pgs (probably Westbrook) and then BPA at 9. Clips are in a really weird spot though. I can see why they'd want to trade Brand if they thought they'd just get screwed when he leaves to take the max from Philly, but Kaman is a pretty good, young piece to build around, I guess?

[fatlever]

i think love is gone by 9. he'll continue moving up the boards as the draft gets closer. he'll flat out impress at least one gm in that 5-8 range due to his maturity, bball iq and readiness to contribute. not every gm can afford to wait on a project.

[CarolinaCash]

yeah draftexpress moved him to 5 tonight.