Besides Michael Beasley (who's good but not as good as Carmelo Anthony, I don't care how many rebounds he gets - I just don't care for that comparison) and maybe Derrick Rose, this kid's the most NBA-ready right now out of all of the ultra-hyped freshman out there. Hands down.

Always a huge UCLA guy from even before the Tracy Murray/Don McClean/Tyus Edney days, and everytime I've tuned in this season to watch Collison and Josh Shipp play, it's Love who steals the show every time. Seen him play a few times now, including yesterday's blowout over Arizona, and I'm telling you this kid's just a winner. If he came out right now he could be a starting PF for almost any team in the NBA. Very little this kid can't do. I've seen comparisons to David West and Wes Unseld, which are huge compliments and quiet fitting. How's this for a compliment from our neck of the woods - what comes to mind is a slightly less athletic but stronger version of David Lee WITH AN ADVANCED OFFENSIVE GAME. Picture David Lee scoring at will in the post and canning jumpers from 20 feet - That's what this kid is.
How's this for a description Knick fans - he's like a combination of these 3 recent Knick big men all rolled up in one BUT BETTER:
David Lee (the rebounding, the nose for the ball, the passing ability, the court sense, the savy, the overall IQ, the respect for the game, the solid FT shooting - has every intangible Lee has except maybe the handle and the motor at this point - but make no mistake, while Lee can play some 3 here and there, this kid's a legit 4 in the NBA all the way)
Anthony Mason (he's bigger than Mason and not as quick, but picture the way Mason used to score the ball in close with either hand - not Kevin McCale here or anything, just a solid variety of hooks, backing his guy down, powering the ball up, using the glass - effective and efficent)
Kurt Thomas (the jumper, but with even more range than Kurt, out to about 20 feet very comfortably)

Salivating yet? You know I am...

Now again, not the most athletic dude out there and not a standout on the defensive end of the floor (although I like that he holds his position well on the block - he stays grounded and doesn't go for fakes, which leaves him in good position for defensive rebounds), but this kid just sort of has it in a Brandon Roy kinda way. I can't believe this kid was playing in High School just a few months ago. Amazing. And I can't believe some sites have him going as late as the 20th pick. Well behind guys who clearly aren't ready like DeAndre Jordan & Donte Greene.

I tell you what, if this kid's still there when we pick (which we all know will wind up being in the 6-10 range, not top 3, after the flukey winning streaks and Jamal hot streaks that are bound to come) I seriously considering grabbing him. Even with say the 5th or 6th pick. A little crazy? Perhaps? Too much of a "safe pick" with not as much upside as some of these other guys? Yeah, ok maybe. But we're in no position to waste that pick on a bust. This kid's about as sure a thing as I've seen at the college level in a long time at that young an age. If we set our eyes on this kid now it gives us the flexibility to now maybe deal Lee for something useful - a Sergio Rodriguez/Martell Webster package for our future PG and SF, a Hilton Armstrong package for a good young interior defender with a lot of promise - two nice possibilities. Then we unload Crawford, Curry and/or Z-Bo for whatever we can get. I'm telling you we can do this right and flip this whole roster quicker than we thought if we get someone in here with the smarts and the balls to do it.

Anyway, any thoughts here on Kevin Love fellas?




[Edited by - finestrg on 02-03-2008 12:03 PM]

He is a really strong fundamental player. His outlet passes are awesome. Can you see him hitting nate on those?????

The problem I have with him as a player is that he is kinda small(6'8"), and his feet are kinda slow. I worry a little bit about him having the foot speed to guard nba power forward's.

The other guy I would love to see the knicks pick up from UCLA is Collinson. He is also projected kinda late in the draft.

This is an interesting choice, but I'll simply say this: I don't want to see us reach in any more drafts. It absolutely disgusts me. This guy is likely to be available around #20. If he's the right guy for the team, then let's trade down, pick up an extra pick in the process and then take him. Otherwise, it's not a consideration. If we don't start playing the draft a little smarter, we're going to be seriously doomed.

He's good but that dude from Boston College comes to mind.......he got drafted by Detroit and disappeared. Can't think of his name.

He's just a big boy. There is that guy that plays for Notre dame and tyler H from UNC........where do these guys fall?

Its not even because they are white. Its because they are all just some big thick mofos than play inside like you are supposed to.....those guys usually don't make the NBA in this day and age.

Love is interesting. I need to see another season.

donte green is an absolute stud, tim thomas is a good comparison but tim thomas didn't have heart, he had PLENTY of game.

love is an interesting case, i agree he has the skills but i'm not sure he has the footspeed to play in today's nba. i think if he goes to the write situation he could be great (ie the heat taking him in the middle of the first round w/ another pick, the mavs, the wizards etc), but if he goes to a team that likes to run and push it versus a team that likes to move the ball around he could struggle.

i don't think billy curley is a good comparison for kevin love.

I would really be comfortable taking any of ben howland products the next few years. Whether it be love, collinson or westbrook. They all play really hard on defense and have been taught a strong team concept. I think all three of these guys are going to be strong two-way players, something we really need.

Interestingly enough, I caught the first of two practices that the knicks had at UCLA last week. I think more people came for the second day, but on the first day Love, Westbrook, and Shipp showed up and watched for awhile. One guy from the knicks entourage came out and asked the guys from the team if they wanted to go inside(Since it was a closed practice)but that guy never got to ask thomas and eventually the ucla players took off. They were kinda surprised at how low key the knicks practice, i guess cause howland runs them so hard in practice.

Anway, the thought I had on the topic, is that I think it might be possible that Love could play some center in the nba. HE might be 6'8" but they list him as 271 and the way the nba is going that might not be so bad. Plus for the bigger centers like curry, Love can always step out and hit the outside shot, which will create matchup problems. That way, Love could also play with Lee. At 6'8" he is probably not going to be a great shotblocker but he will play pretty good help defense, like lee, and that is part of the problem with Zach and Curry.

Posted by EnySpree:

Even Eduardo Najara. He's become more versitile, but in college he was a inside guy. Najara isn't a major threat but he carved a nitch. I dunno what to make of Love. He's good.......but he's a lot like Najara was in college. Tractor trailor, sweetney,

Bill Curly was a beast in college. He made a SI cover back then after leading his team deep in the Tourney. He was a inside guy. Thick, blue collar guy In college. In the pros he couldn't adapt like Najara and just disapeared.

Like I said Love, tyler, the kid from Notre Dame.......can't call it....but they all are good players.

Yeah, you're right. Curley was an inside guy. Confusing him with someone else.

He's good but that dude from Boston College comes to mind

Troy Bell.

oohah

Zach Randolph was fat in College. He only spent a year but he displayed the same game that Kevin Love has. Love is just thicker. Love may need to stay that extra year. Zach spent some time on the bench his first few years in Portland. Zach has also lost a lot of the baby fat he had when he was in college. Love has some junk in the trunk to lose.

why would we want a 6'8 pf
get real man he's not a shot blocker so forget him
id rather trade the pick then pick that guy up