Draft day is here and teams all around the league are scrambling to bring in new faces. One team that could potentially enter rebuilding mode is the Portland Trail Blazers. They recently traded Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh, and it appears LaMarcus Aldridge might be on his way out also.
If Aldridge does decide to sign with another team, there’s a good chance Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez will follow. There is no shortage of teams excited to offer contracts to both of these starters, and if Portland plans to give Damian Lillard a max deal, they may not be able to match the competition’s prices. Although Lillard is a solid centerpiece to work around, they’ll need to make some marquee moves to salvage the next few seasons.
One player Portland has expressed interest in is Kevin Love. He grew up in Oregon, playing basketball for Lake Oswego High School. There he was awarded Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year and won one state championship his junior year. Coming back to Oregon would be a dream come true for Love’s father, who played collegiately for the University of Oregon. Bringing Love back to the Pacific Northwest will take more than just his roots, seeing as several other teams have expressed interest in signing the three-time All-Star.
The Suns, Celtics, Rockets, and Lakers are all pushing for Love to join their team, but the Cavaliers aren’t keen on letting him go. Although he had a poor season with Cleveland, if winning a championship tops his priority list, then expect Love to stay right where he is now.
The addition of Kevin Love to Portland’s roster is key. If LaMarcus Aldridge leaves, no one will be able to fill his position as top scorer in the paint. Kevin Love’s post game may not be at Aldridge’s level, but he has the stature to develop into a dominant player down low. Having a presence under the basket is necessary, especially if Robin Lopez decides to jump ship as well. Love won’t be enough, however, if both current Blazer starters sign elsewhere.
Portland will need to pick up a defensive-minded center to take the pressure off Love. This will allow him to expand his range offensively. The three-point shot is the staple of Love’s game, but he won’t have the time and space to hit jumpers if there isn’t a big man down low. Noah Vonleh could assume this position, being a 6’10” power forward. He is an unproven rookie though, and it will take at least half a season for Vonleh to hit full stride if he does receive minutes in Portland.