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Nets: Why is Brooklyn a ‘Perfect Fit’ for Kevin Love Trade?

By Adam Weinrib

BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 25, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Nets 121-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 25, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Cavaliers defeated the Nets 121-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Do the Kevin Love rumors make any sense for the Brooklyn Nets?

The Brooklyn Nets are about to enter the bubble with far from their full complement of players, and apparently that means it’s time to start speculating wildly about 2020-21.

Rumors have cropped up once again in recent weeks about how Kevin Love would be an ideal fit for the Brooklyn Nets, who are about to play their first season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, following a year-long runway of anticipation.

And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this buzz, either.

Not to go all “Prime Kevin Love Was a PROBLEM” on you, but much like Chris Bosh, Love’s proficient play as the third man in a trio usually got unfairly downgraded. As your No. 1 option, he’s a tenacious rebounding machine, but likely not as adept a scorer as the opposing team’s best player. But as the third component, Love’s hustle and bucket-getting still does the job.

And the biggest knock on him, his defense, was deleted from the lexicon when he locked up Steph Curry to secure the 2016 NBA Finals from beyond the arc. Yes, that really happened.

Despite the fact that his D has shown up on the biggest stage, it’s still the top knock against his fit with the Nets. Coming off an Achilles tear, Kevin Durant is going to need the burden upon him lessened on the defensive end, and Kyrie Irving, pardon my French, will not be able to provide that. Adding Love as your third star is, in many ways, surrendering to the deficiency.

“We’re not going to be playing much perimeter defense, and you’d better be ready to lock down the paint, Jarrett Allen,” doesn’t sound like a winning team motto. In fact, Allen will probably be the primary piece heading to Cleveland, in this exchange. Brooklyn will also have to suck up three years of a four-year, $120 million extension.

For these reasons and more, it feels like Brooklyn could do better than adding the back end of Love’s career on an exorbitant deal, while sacrificing their only remaining defensive thread.

Next. Mark Jackson to the Nets?. dark

But the third bit of firepower’s going to have to come from somewhere. It’s Sean Marks’ prerogative to find the right fit; he can’t stand pat or make the wrong bold play.

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