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Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Trading For Kevin Love

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) is defended by New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) is defended by New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after being called for a foul during the overtime against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Washington Wizards 140-135 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after being called for a foul during the overtime against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Washington Wizards 140-135 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Defensive Inconsistency

If the New York Knicks are hoping to improve on the defensive end of the floor, Kevin Love isn’t the player to target. It’s not as though Love doesn’t attempt to defend, but his fundamental execution has been painfully inconsistent.

Carmelo Anthony has been routinely criticized for his defensive inconsistency, but Love would be no improvement on that end of the floor.

New York currently ranks in the bottom 10 of the NBA in points allowed per 100 possessions. It’s been that dreadful throughout the 2016-17 regular season, which is a product of more than just one player’s inconsistency.

Having said that, it would be tough to improve on defense by replacing one subpar defensive player with another of the same caliber.

It’s worth noting that Cleveland has defensive ratings of 103.1 with Love on the court and 109.6 without him in 2016-17. Love also has a positive Defensive Real Plus-Minus of 1.60, which further boosts his value as a team defender.

Love’s individual defense has been consistently criticized, however, and a strong 43-game stretch hardly guarantees permanent improvement.

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