Kevin Love wants to be traded to a contender if the Cleveland Cavaliers finally decide to move on from him, and his hometown team is reportedly at the top of his wish list.
Love has his sights set on playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reports. Love was born in Santa Monica, but he grew up Lake Oswego, Ore., which located just minutes from the heart of Portland. He played at Lake Oswego High School and led the team to the state championship game in 2005.
The Blazers may not be considered a contender at 9-15, but Love could potentially make them one. Portland has been impacted by several injuries, including those to big men Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins. Nurkic broke his leg last March and is expected to return later this season, and he and Love could compliment each other nicely with Love’s ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots from outside.
O’Connor notes that the Blazers have the expiring contracts to make a potential Love trade work. Hassan Whiteside ($27.1 million) and Kent Bazemore ($19.3 million) are both in the final year of their current deals, so one or both could be unloaded to allow Portland to take on Love’s $30 million salary.
Love has expressed a desire to remain in Cleveland even in the second post-LeBron James era, but the Cavs are one of the worst teams in the NBA with their 5-18 record. Love is averaging 15.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and has shown that he is still capable of playing at a high level, so he should have plenty of suitors.
