Posted on Friday 16 May 2008
ESPN caught up with Kevin Love in Los Angeles as he prepares for the NBA Draft.
Draft stock is a fickle thing. Last year, Love was projected to go in the top 5, but over the course of the season, people started to question his fitness and athleticism. He is no doubt a very skilled player, but while he was at UCLA, he was clearly on the doughy side. It also seemed like he got by more on strength than jumping ability in the post.
But, from the video, it looks like he has indeed lost some fat and that seems to have helped his vertical leap. He was dunking in the post with ease, so if can improve on that (or just keep it up), his draft stock will rise. He’s going to play power forward in the NBA, and he has all the tools to be a good one. He is very skilled with the ball - there’s no questioning his shooting, passing or even his ball handling skills - but scouts will need to see good athleticism in his personal workouts for his stock to rise to earlier levels.
Lots of players are motivated to get into better shape before the draft (because of the money involved), but some don’t keep those good habits up once the money starts rolling in. My beloved Milwaukee Bucks were once duped by one Robert “Tractor” Traylor, who trimmed down enough before the draft to convince the Bucks to burn a lottery pick on him. I don’t think Kevin Love is the next Robert Traylor – in fact, I think he’s going to be a star – but there is some risk.
I’d like the Knicks to get him with the 6th pick. Love’s faded as a sexy pick for some reason, and I don’t know why. Sure, chances are he’s not going to be a decade long franchise cornerstone stud, but I’m not sure on anybody having that kind of impact in this draft (including the heralded top 2). I do know Love’s basketball intellect is off the charts and though he doesn’t have the stereotypical all-world basketball athleticism, the kid can play and play hard. He’s a very “safe” top 10 pick, IMO. Like a better David Lee. It won’t be boom or bust with him. He’ll be a multifaceted major contributor for a long time. The Knicks need solid players. They don’t need anymore gambles, they don’t need crazy athleticism absent NBA smarts. They already have a bunch of expensive veterans like that.
Well said, Macca. After Beasley and Rose, I don’t know that there is a guy that you can put clearly ahead of Love, if he continues to trim the fat and increase his athleticism. He was dunking with ease in the video, which is a big change from what I saw during the season. Like you said, he is a low-risk pick.
For the Knicks, I don’t know that you grab Love since Lee is one of your best players. Lee has garnered a lot of attention in trading circles, so if the Knicks did want to go that route, they wouldn’t have any problem getting value for Lee. I don’t think that Love will fit well in D’Antoni’s system, though I’d like to see him firing those outlet passes to whatever point guard the Knicks choose to acquire/use.