There are some common things about Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. Both are power forwards in terms of position. Both are All-Star caliber players. And both are hot topics in NBA trade rumor talks.
Both players are really good players until now. Blake Griffin is just 27 years old and is still in the height of his career. Kevin Love is only 28 and is still at his prime. But it is rumored that the two players just doesn't fit to their current respective teams.
Kevin Love averaged 16.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 77 regular season games with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And on opening night against the New York Knicks, he tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, per CBS Sports. They won that game of course with a score of 117-88.
Although Love played good on his season debut, it is still questionable whether Love can go back to the dominant player when he was still in Minnesota Timberwolves. Many critics say that Love doesn't just fit well with the Cavs. And if he played for the right team, he could go back to being an All-Star caliber player once again.
Blake Griffin on the other hand averages 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. In his 48 playoff appearances, he averages 21.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists, per Wikipedia.
Although the Clippers manage to make the NBA playoffs in the last 5 season, they never experience reaching the NBA Finals or even the Conference finals. There are doubts whether his tandem with Chris Paul would go any further.
With his contract expiring after this season, he will go into free agency. And if he chooses to sign with other teams, the Clippers will lose Griffin without receiving something in return. It happened to the Thunder when Kevin Durant decided to sign up with the Warriors and they receive nothing in return.
Because of this, it is possible that the Clippers might trade Griffin. And if they will trade Griffin, getting Love in return might be a good idea.
With Chris Paul playing at the point guard position and DeAndre Jordan already commanding the inside, what the Clippers need to get into that next level is a good stretched four who can defend the paint very well and at the same time, shoot threes is needed.
Kevin Love is one of the best stretch four in the NBA right now. A guy who could defend well, score well, rebound well and can also shoot threes. He might be a great fit for Doc Rivers' system in Clippers.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers needs a good low post player. A player who is very good offensively from the inside. A player who could be creative once given the ball from the post. Blake Griffin is a very good post player.
During his early years in the NBA, he can only score from dunks, hook shots and close range shots. But Griffin improved his game a notch when he learned to widen his range. He can now shoot mid-range jumpers and on rare occasions, shoot threes.
Aside from being a good fit for the Cavs, Griffin will have a chance to compete for a championship. An opportunity that he never experience in the his tenure in the Los Angeles Clippers.
The NBA trade deadline doesn't happen until February 2017. If the Clippers or the Cavs struggled from their respective conferences, a trade between these two teams might be possible.
