New York Knicks Should Pursue Kevin Love in Free Agency

According to Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Star center Marc Gasol has ruled out the New York Knicks as a potential free agency destination. That’s a potentially crushing blow considering how perfectly Gasol would fit the Knicks’ system.

While he may not be receiving as much attention as he used to, there’s another big man who would be perfect for the Triangle Offense: embattled Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love.

Love’s in the midst of a somewhat disappointing season with the Cavaliers. He’s averaging 17.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 3-point field goals made per game, but he’s only shooting 43.3 percent from the field.

Stuck in a tertiary role behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, however, it’s rational to believe that to be a combination of wavering morale and a relatively undefined role.

Love isn’t the two-way force or defensive specialist who New York is missing, but he is comparable to another great player who made the transition to a Phil Jackson offense. Just as significantly, he’s similar to a player who called current Knicks head coach Derek Fisher a teammate on a pair of championship teams.

That player is Pau Gasol.

Love is more of a perimeter-oriented player than Gasol, but he possesses similar offensive capabilities. He can work out of the pinch post, is comfortable going to the low block, is a skilled passer and has a jump shot to complement his dynamic attack.

According to Chris Haynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Love isn’t exactly enamored with his current role for the Cavaliers.

"Love is launching 8.1 threes per contest in his last seven games. His highest rate of threes taken in Minnesota was 6.6 last year, and that was along with the inside touches he received. No matter what the statistics suggest, Love is not in agreement on the big-man long distance tag.“I heard some people calling me that but I know I’m not a stretch-four,” Love told NEOMG. “I’m a post player who can shoot. Right now I’m just doing what I’m called to do. For good, bad or indifferent, I’m playing my role and doing what’s asked of me. Tonight, I stayed out on the perimeter.”"

Where better for him to be a post player who can shoot than in New York with the Triangle Offense?

According to NBA.com, Love has overcome his unappealing role by ranking No. 11 in points via post-ups. He’s converting at a clip of 45.4 percent in such situations, which is a strong sign of both his proficiency and efficiency.

That makes him the ideal power forward for the Triangle Offense.

In fact, Love may be the best fit for the Triangle Offense of any available free agent after Marc Gasol.

As previously established, Love is one of the league’s best back-to-the-basket players—both as a scorer and as a facilitator. He can also flash out to the perimeter and is comfortable working on both the low block and high post.

Love leaves plenty to be desired defensively, and that would need to be addressed in the offseason. He and Carmelo Anthony are both offensive juggernauts who lack the necessary level of defensive prowess to lead a team on both ends.

Furthermore, I’ve admittedly been one of Love’s biggest critics. I’ve long valued a player who gets his team to the playoffs over one whose statistics jump off of the page and take the fantasy basketball world by storm.

As the NBA Draft nears and mountains of cap space become available, however, the Knicks must view Love as a genuine option.

With Love and Anthony combining to anchor the Triangle Offense, New York would have the offensive firepower to build a contender.

Next: Are the Oklahoma City Thunder attempting to trade Kevin Durant?

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