* * *
You can put the Kevin Love-for-Carmelo Anthony trade rumors to rest by telling
me how such a trade makes no sense for the defending champs … can’t you?
* * *
David Aldridge: Of course it makes no sense. If you couldn’t see how Love
impacts a game in more ways than ‘Melo watching that sensational Cavs-Wizards OT
game Monday, I have nothing for you. Love is a better perimeter threat than
Anthony, which spaces the floor and gives LeBron and Kyrie room to penetrate.
He’s a better rebounder than Anthony. And while neither are going to be first
team all-defense, Love got stops on John Wall and Bradley Beal on consecutive
possessions in OT after getting switched on them — just as he did on key
possessions in Game 7 of the Finals against Golden State. The Cavs’ chemistry is
always a work in progress, and I don’t doubt that LeBron is closer to and
friendlier with Carmelo than Kevin. But from a basketball standpoint, for that
team (what would Irving do while LBJ and ‘Melo took turns with the ball–take up
knitting?), it doesn’t make sense.
Steve Aschburner: Why soitenly! Trading Kevin Love for Carmelo Anthony makes no
sense for the Cavaliers because Love is both the better fit with Cleveland, the
better player these days and the one with the brighter future, given the gap in
their ages (Love 28, Melo 32). The way Anthony scores doesn’t fit the Cavs’
style, and suddenly becoming the third wheel on a contending team wouldn’t fit
Melo’s style either. LeBron James wants his championship window to be propped
open as long as possible, but Anthony – like himself, frankly, though James’
peak was way higher – has started his trek downward. As for that magnificent
outlet pass from Love to LeBron in Washington, James would end up as the guy
making the passes, with Kyrie Irving making the shot. How would ‘Melo like that?
Fran Blinebury: Could the Cavs win a championship with Carmelo Anthony in the
place of Kevin Love? Yes. We have seen the LeBron James/Anthony tandem work at
the Olympics. Have the Cavs already won a championship with Love? Yes. Toss in
the fact that Love is more than four years younger and quite capable himself of
putting up 39 and 12 as he did against the Wizards and it’s just a totally
unnecessary move. Most of this is fueled by a Phil Jackson desperate to unload
Carmelo and a New York media that is in its perennial state of trying to
convince everyone that the world owes the Knicks. Fact is, the Knicks are the
most overhyped, overrated franchise in the NBA, last winning a championship 44
years ago and rarely being relevant.
Scott Howard-Cooper: Easily. Whatever problems the Cavaliers have, Kevin Love
isn’t one of them. And LeBron James is calling out for a playmaker, not a
ball-stopper. Carmelo Anthony is a glittery name that draws a lot of attention,
he can score and rebound and has enough left to be a valuable piece for some
team looking to add a piece for a push to June. But he isn’t what Cleveland
needs, and certainly not for Love.
Shaun Powell: We can put it to rest because LeBron did just that. However, for
argument’s sake, I don’t see how this improves the Cavs. Love is having one of
the best years of his career, unless you place a higher value on those years
when he put up big numbers for losing Minnesota teams. Remember, this is a guy
who was benched during the NBA Finals but has rallied in a big way. He’s giving
the Cavs the kind of scoring and rebounding they’d get with Carmelo, so again,
what’s the upside of a trade from Cleveland’s angle?
John Schuhmann: Anthony would be a different player (closer to USA Basketball
‘Melo) alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving than he is in New York, where the
playmaking is lacking. (When Irving has a higher assist rate than your starting
point guard, you have a problem.) He’s a better shooter off the catch than Love
is, so from an offensive standpoint, I can see the appeal. But Love is the much
better rebounder and, believe it or not, the better defender. He also gives the
Cavs more flexibility, in that he can be the lone big in James-at-the-four
lineups. Love didn’t look like the greatest fit a year ago, but he’s more
comfortable with the Cavs now and an increase in efficiency has come with an
increase in usage rate this season.
Sekou Smith: A Love-for-Melo swap makes absolutely no sense for the Cavaliers.
They need a deal that send Carmelo Anthony to Cleveland to join Love, Kyrie
Irving and LeBron James in the quest to repeat as NBA champions with a roster
capable of repelling the Golden State Warriors and their four stars (Kevin
Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson). I don’t know how they
get it done, but that’s the deal the Cavaliers need. Swapping Love for Melo
would leave Cleveland in need of the help LeBron believes they so desperately
need. Go ahead David Griffin, you’ve got a couple of weeks to get this mega-deal
done.
Ian Thomsen: Everyone in Cleveland is denying the desire for that trade, first
of all. And it’s easy to understand why: They won a championship last year when
Love wasn’t yet integrated offensively nearly so well as he is today. When
LeBron James is frustrated by his roster and asks for another playmaker, he
isn’t complaining about Love. As much as I believe the Clippers or Celtics would
benefit from the addition of Anthony, I’m just as certain that this is not the
time for Cleveland to break up its championship formula – especially now that
Love has finally found his role.
Lang Whitaker: Sure. Hey, one team has proven chemistry and a dude who just put
up 39 and 12 in his last game. And then there’s Anthony. Look, ‘Melo is a proven
scorer who can create his own shot, but the last thing the Cavs need is someone
keeping the ball out of the hands of LeBron and Kyrie. Love is a perfect
complementary player for what Cleveland does offensively, and if I’m the Cavs,
getting JR Smith back will be the perfect late-season playmaking addition.
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