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#1 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a team trying to get over the hump. They are a talented team but cannot make a deep playoff run. In the past three seasons, the Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In the 2016-17 season, they lost to the Houston Rockets 4-1. The Thunder lost to the Utah Jazz the following year in a 4-2 series. This season, they lost to the Portland Trailblazers in a 4-1.
The Thunder have a duo of Paul George and Russell Westbrook. But apart from them, they have nothing much to offer. Like the Blazers, the Thunder could benefit from another legitimate offensive player. Love gives the Thunder what they'd need. At the start of the offseason, George and Westbrook underwent surgeries to rid themselves of nagging injuries. George had surgery on a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder and intended to have another procedure in his left shoulder. Westbrook repaired a torn ligament in a finger on his left hand and had a procedure on his right knee. Both players will recover over the summer.
If George, Love and Westbrook stay healthy and coincide, the trio could compete with the elite teams of the Western Conference.
Love could reunite with his UCLA teammate in Westbrook. Both players were in the 2008 draft and were drafted back to back. The Thunder (then Supersonics) drafted Westbrook, and the Memphis Grizzlies drafted Love but traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. If the Cavaliers and Thunder agree to a deal, the former Bruins could join forces.
At the moment, there is a rumored trade offer between the Cavs and Thunder. Love joins the Thunder if OKC is willing to part with Steven Adams. This trade works on trade machine (like the Rockets trade, consider other assets such as draft picks) and benefits both teams. The Cavs get two young players with upside (Diallo and Ferguson) and a center in Adams. Then, the Thunder get another player to pair with Westbrook and George.
Trade: The Cavaliers receive Steven Adams, Terrence Ferguson, and Hamidou Diallo in exchange for Kevin Love.
With the right team, Kevin Love could be a valuable piece. If any of the rumors are true, fans can expect Love in a new uniform. These three times are right near contention but are missing something. My response, "all you need is Love."
Guess the Lakers players!
