Offseason: Should the Rockets propose a trade for Kevin Love?

The offseason has already seen it’s fair share of craziness so far. Could a trade of another star continue this trend?

The Rockets have already made what is likely to be their biggest move of the offseason. They re-signed star point guard Chris Paul to a 4-year, $160 million contract right as free agency began. The team also missed out on LeBron James but have decided to bring back pretty much the same team as last season that almost advanced to the NBA Finals.

But what if they go after another All-Star? They missed out on LeBron, but there are others that could possibly want to join forces in Houston. One viable route to achieve this goal would be through a trade.

Could they snag one of Bron’s teammates from Cleveland? Kevin Love is reportedly available in trade talks. The Rockets pursued him in free agency a few years ago before he re-signed with Cleveland.

Fair warning: There have been absolutely zero links between the Rockets and Kevin Love so far. This is pure speculation. Now, let’s discuss some of the reasons for and against trying to trade for the All-Star!

Why the Rockets should trade for Kevin Love

Kevin Love is coming off a few seasons of playing next to LeBron James, even winning a championship one year. He was never 100% utilized in Cleveland and could be an interesting fit in Houston.

He is a stretch big man who is an elite shooter. For his career, Love is a 37% shooter from deep and even shot 41.5% last year when he was an All-Star. He also can score in many different ways around the basket and can flat-out put up points when given the opportunity.

Kevin enjoyed his highest PER last season since his days in Minnesota. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the team that made the Finals. He is an elite rebounder that has averaged as many as 15.2 per game during his third season in the league.

Love is certainly not just an upgraded Ryan Anderson. He is a player that will produce night in and night out for a team and can put up some serious numbers when used properly.

Why the Rockets should not trade for Kevin Love

While there are many benefits to having Kevin Love, there are also some negatives. He is fairly injury prone and played just 59 games last season and 60 the year before. That hasn’t stopped the Rockets in the past, but it’s something to think about as Love ages.

Kevin Love also doesn’t really fit the defensive scheme of the Rockets. He can certainly space the floor on offense and grab boards on defense, but he isn’t a great on-ball defender by any means. The Rockets love (no pun intended) to switch on defense, and K-Love might struggle with that.

It would also be very difficult to orchestrate a trade for the big man. This is likely the main reason against this deal. It would take the Cavs accepting some combination of Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, possibly P.J. Tucker and some draft picks as well. That is quite a bit to give up for a guy that has a player-option next summer. Financially, it makes the offseason even more difficult for Houston as well.

Cleveland, if they even end up wanting to trade Love, could likely find a better offer elsewhere. Some middle of the road team with assets to spare could put together a better deal for both sides.

Next: Rockets should consider signing Tyreke Evans

This trade is highly unlikely, but you never know with the Rockets. They could shock the world and add another All-Star to this stacked roster.