{"id":27957,"date":"2019-12-28T11:20:57","date_gmt":"2019-12-28T16:20:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=27957"},"modified":"2019-12-28T11:20:57","modified_gmt":"2019-12-28T16:20:57","slug":"nba-trade-rumors-kevin-love-to-portland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/12\/28\/nba-trade-rumors-kevin-love-to-portland\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Love Trade Rumors and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have passed the Christmas holiday and the league had a couple of bad games on their biggest days. A few blowouts in the first couple of games didn’t help the slate of games. The Golden State Warriors<\/a> upsetting the Houston Rockets<\/a> added some intrigue. So as this writer tried to watch games with my kids running about, I realized how great the NBA is right now.\u00a0We are also dealing with some teams that are struggling and could use a boost. Kevin Love<\/strong><\/a> trade rumors are swirling about. However, there are some other All-Star caliber players rotting away on teams that will not contend this year or for the next couple of seasons. These are the trades we should look out for.<\/p>\n

Kevin Love Trade Rumors and more from around the NBA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kevin Love to the Portland Trailblazers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Portland Trailblazers have had some struggles this year. They are currently sitting in the eighth position in the Western Conference. The issues stem from an injury-plagued team to some trades that have failed for this team. Kent Bazemore<\/a><\/strong> hasn’t helped out the way they thought when he was acquired for Evan Turner<\/a><\/strong>. If CJ McCollum<\/a><\/strong> or Damian Lillard<\/a><\/strong> has an off night, the team doesn’t have enough to keep them afloat. However, Kevin Love is the player the Blazers need to help in a crowded Western Conference.<\/p>\n

The Cleaveland Cavaliers<\/a> are bad. With a very young core, they are in the asset-collecting business. That happened this week when the Cavaliers sent Jordan Clarkson<\/a><\/strong> to the Utah Jazz<\/a> in exchange for injury-prone Dante Exum<\/a><\/strong>. The Cavaliers received two 2nd round picks in return. Kevin Love would require a significant package to get a deal done. Hassan Whiteside <\/a><\/strong>with two future first-rounders and two second-round picks should help this get done. Whitesides’s contract is up after this season.<\/p>\n

Andre Drummond to the Boston Celtics\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Boston Celtics have been playing some great basketball this year. The Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/strong> saga brought this team down. However, with Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/strong> and Jayson Tatum<\/a><\/strong> getting to run this offense they are looking like that playoff team from the 2017-18 season. They dismantled the Toronto Raptors<\/a> on Christmas and look to be contenders this year. Andre Drummond<\/strong><\/a> would be the down-low presence that could help elevate the Celtics.<\/p>\n

Gordon Hayward<\/a><\/strong> has shown glimpses of his former self this season. He is still missing games for other injury issues, but they appear to be minor. If the Detroit Pistons<\/a> are wanting to reload with Blake Griffin<\/a><\/strong> and other pieces, this trade would help both sides. The Pistons would send Drummond and Luke Kennard<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to the Celtics for Hayward and the 2020 Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> pick that is owned by the Celtics. Hayward has a player option after this season.<\/p>\n

Russell Westbrook to the Miami Heat<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The surprising team this year has been the Miami Heat.<\/a> Everyone thought they would be in the mix for the playoffs, but they are currently sitting in third in the East. Rookies\u00a0Tyler Herro<\/a><\/strong> and Kendrick Nunn<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>have surpassed everyone’s expectations already.<\/p>\n

Ryen Russillo of The Ringer suggested that the Rockets would field calls for Russell Westbrook<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0“Is Daryl Morey actively calling people saying I gotta dump Westbrook? Of course, he wouldn’t do it that way. But there are people who believe that Westbrook is available and that Daryl knows I gotta figure something out here and it’s about that contract more than somebody watching Westbrook,” said Russillo.<\/p>\n

That is a hefty contract to move anywhere. The Miami Heat had interest when he was still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/a> The Rockets could get out of salary cap purgatory with a couple of smaller contracts from the Heat and unload Westbrook. Westbrook has been inefficient while on the court with James Harden<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>so far.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>