Kevin Love

[Yadadimean]

I think Love would be great for the Kings. His game is a nice compliment to Hawes' game and together they should give you a LOT of offense in a couple years. I wouldn't worry too much about his supposed weight issues. Some people are just genetically predisposed to certain body types. For some guys no matter how much work they put in on the treadmill and the weight room, they'll never be long and lean. Love may never jump out of the gym and Nate Robinson might posterize him once or twice, but Love will always be very strong with a very polished post game with range extending past the 3 point line, great passing skills for a big, a good rebounder, and he will always have a high basketball IQ. Love is gonna be a stud in the league, I'm pretty sure about that.

[The_Pope]

I don't know why people always seem to overlook this when talking about potential -- but if you watched Roy consistently in college the thing that just stood out about him is that he just seemed to be 3-4 plays ahead of every other player on the court and just took over the game when his team needed it.

Love plays a different position that Roy, but he had the capacity to make his presence felt... as a freshman on a very good team. That's impressive. And to me, just having that kind of presence on the court is an intangible that facilitates unlimited upside. Will he be a perennial all-star? Maybe not. But he will be a better version of Sean May and a solid starter for a large part of his career.

Every year people pass on guys that have the mentality and ability to dominate at the college level and lead their teams deep in the tournament for guys that tantalize our imaginations with athletic ability. To me, this is why people draft Marvin Williams over Chris Paul (which made no sense, Atl's playoff appearance this year notwithstanding). Or Nene, Wilcox, Ely, Haislip, and Humphrey ahead of Boozer who was a force on a good team. In fact, you look at who the Jazz have drafted from consistently low positions -- Boozer, Kirilenko, and Milsap -- and you have the frontcourt of a top team in the league.

Of course it's exciting to find that Kevin Garnett or Amare Stoudemire gem... but Love is a surefire player in this league. If we can't see an outstanding college player who has demonstrated the ability to adjust to higher levels of competition of play quickly and will likely be a career starter as "upside" then something is wrong...

But isn't it also true that every year teams take players who have dominated on the college level with high picks, only for them not to pan out because they don't have NBA games? I'm talking Corey Brewer, Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams, JJ Redik, Raymond Felton, Luke Jackson, Rafael Araujo, Mike Sweetney.

[GSW2K4]

-= original quote snipped =-


But isn't it also true that every year teams take players who have dominated on the college level with high picks, only for them not to pan out because they don't have NBA games? I'm talking Corey Brewer, Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams, JJ Redik, Raymond Felton, Luke Jackson, Rafael Araujo, Mike Sweetney.

Good point.

But I would say not one of those players was 3-4 plays ahead of the competition or able influence the game in more than one way. In fact, it's hard to argue that Brewer, Williams, or Araujo "dominated" (just being big does not constitute knowing how to skillfully creating opportunities for oneself or teammates). Araujo was also considerably older. And Williams and Brewer could still improve and become solid NBA players.

The guys you list were very good players at the college level. But most of them were quite obviously flawed and one dimensional. And none of them did anything to make their teammates better. Great players are able to make others around them better just by their mere presence on the court.

I don't know what you think about Hollinger, but a lot of the things he highlights in his draft formula system are little things -- steals, blocks, and rebounds for one's size. Things that demonstrate the ability to take advantage of the weaker competition at the college level.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft200 ... e=ProRater

So when I say dominate, it's not just statistically, but those guys who can literally dictate the pace and flow of a game with court vision, picking the right opportunities to make the right plays, and picking up the slack for their teammates.

[Dexmor]

First off he is not undersized. As a matter of fact 1 more inch and he would be a Center if so choosen. 6'8 6'9 is perfect size for a pf. Just because some 7 footers choice to play pf because it's easier then there natural position so they don't have to bang and have a height advantage doesnt mean 6'8 is small.

I doubt the Bobcats do pass on him because Larry Brown doesn't play rookies but the exceptions would be a guy like Love because he will play like A vet. Sean May is not to be counted on. Have you seen him even play this year?

Picking Love would only make sence for a trade because if he is around he would be a steal. If Westbrook is there you take him because he would be a steal there and he would actually fit exactly what they need. Love would be a guy who have to move because with Aldridge and Oden there there would be any minutes for him.

Also why are the sopposed to even think of a sf? They have Outlaw and Webster. There probably not gonna get a better sf then those guys at 13 and surely not Outlaw.

Westbrook is there guy but if he is gone they should take the best player left and maybe that will be Love but I doubt it. He will be gone.

Also he will not be a 20 10 guy. He will probably be a 15 8 and 5 guy who does things that don't show up in the stat sheet.

[DanTown8587]

Also he will not be a 20 10 guy. He will probably be a 15 8 and 5 guy who does things that don't show up in the stat sheet.

I love people who say "Person X is going to get stats A B C" and fail to realize that here is the list of players that averaged 15-8-5:

1. LeBron James
2. No one else

There were a few 15-8-3.5 guys, but all these guys are such better passers than Love, its not close (by the way a good outlet pass does not make a great passer)

Brad Miller, Lamar Odom, KG.

EDIT: Neither Miller/LO got 15 points.

Love won't start, I see him with at best Drew Gooden numbers for a few years (12-8-2) and that's it.

[pillwenney]

Love just seems to make sense in Charlotte for so many reasons.

1) He spreads the floor for Okafor with his outside shot (along with anybody else that decides to go inside).

2) He brings an ability to facilitate and make plays that Charlotte seems to be lacking.

3) They're already a very athletic team.

4) Love can also play in the post, which would be good in case Emeka's post O doesn't continue to come along as planned.

5) He is one of the most NBA-ready guys, which both Jordan and Brown will probably be looking for.

6) He happens to be at their greatest position of need.

7) His main deficiencies (D) won't be as bad with Okafor protecting the rim.

His outlets could be very useful in the open court on a team with athletes like Charlotte.

9) It's pretty well agreed on that he should be available at 8 and wouldn't be a reach there.


It just seems to make sense on nearly every level. The only reason I could see Charlotte backing off of him would be that they got screwed with a similar prospect in May.

[Ballings7]

Yes, Yadadimean, a lot of offense...

But a significantly different situation on defense, I would guess? I don't know how good of a rebounder Love will be, effective to some extent. But it won't mean as much with the defense combined between he and Hawes is going to be relatively limited and not enough, naturally. Whereas it would mean more with Love next to a big man with significant defensive ability.

The thing that saves the Kings from that situation is he'll probably be gone by when they pick.

[Yadadimean]

Yes, Yadadimean, a lot of offense...

But a significantly different situation on defense, I would guess? I don't know how good of a rebounder Love will be, effective to some extent. But it won't mean as much with the defense combined between he and Hawes is going to be relatively limited and not enough, naturally. Whereas it would mean more with Love next to a big man with significant defensive ability.

The thing that saves the Kings from that situation is he'll probably be gone by when they pick.

^^^Well it looks like Ron Artest is gonna stick around (sucks for John Salmons) so he'll be drawing the toughest defensive assignment every night anyway. You gotta think Brad Miller is on the way out soon as Hawes is basically his clone. It probably would be that hard for Sac to get a defensive specialist at backup C. I havent really gotten a read on how Theus wants to run the team, but I know under Adleman defense was never their bread & butter anyway. They were a team that was going to outscore you and Doug Christie was pretty much the only legit defender on the team. K Mart, Hawes and Love could should the offensive load and Artest could be the lockdown defender with Beno as the pass first pg capable of hitting a jumper if its there. Plus, you guys got Geoff Petrie. If he picked Love at 12 I would be inclined to think that he would be the BPA on the board.

[bernal100]

As a sixer fan, I can't understand why all my brothers hate Love so much. And several think he will be a bust, saying his game won't translate into the pros. What Hogwash !!


What, all of a sudden smarts and great fundamentals don't translate into the pros. ? However with that said, I can see Love dropping past the 10th pick, maybe further cause yes fans, the league GM's are idiots sometimes, and strictly fall in love with speed, and athletic skills and wingspans. There are no guarantees in a draft. D.Rose could be a Bust. While Ty Lawson could turn out to be another Chris paul. You just never know. But the deciding factor should always be ones performance on the court, and their fundamentals, and not how fast or high they jump in Gym shorts

[The_Pope]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7969 ... are-in-NBA?

This has probably been posted before, but these are Charley Rosen's views on Love. Not saying they're right, but certainly interesting.

[Ballings7]

^^^Well it looks like Ron Artest is gonna stick around (sucks for John Salmons) so he'll be drawing the toughest defensive assignment every night anyway. You gotta think Brad Miller is on the way out soon as Hawes is basically his clone. It probably would be that hard for Sac to get a defensive specialist at backup C. I havent really gotten a read on how Theus wants to run the team, but I know under Adleman defense was never their bread & butter anyway. They were a team that was going to outscore you and Doug Christie was pretty much the only legit defender on the team. K Mart, Hawes and Love could should the offensive load and Artest could be the lockdown defender with Beno as the pass first pg capable of hitting a jumper if its there. Plus, you guys got Geoff Petrie. If he picked Love at 12 I would be inclined to think that he would be the BPA on the board.

Indeed.

But you still need a significant interior defensive presence in the starting line-up at one of the big man spots. Neither Hawes/Love are going to be that for the Kings or in general. Hawes is probably going to be better defensively than Love because of his superior size, but still not somebody who is going to be "the man" defensively at PF/C on a team.

And it's not like Hawes or Love are going to sit on the bench for the more defensive-minded player to finish games.

That's my gripe about the Kings drafting Love, under the scenario I proposed earlier.

[Ballings7]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7969528/How-will-Love-and-Hansbrough-fare-in-NBA?

This has probably been posted before, but these are Charley Rosen's views on Love. Not saying they're right, but certainly interesting.

Like other things I've read and what I've seen, that's why I'm not into Love being a good NBA player. Don't think he'll be that bad, though.