Report: Rival Executives Expected Trail Blazers to Target Kevin Love After Zach Collins Injury

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love has already been the subject of several trade rumors this season, and some executive around the league thought he would end up on the Portland Trail Blazers following a major injury to one of their key players.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Love was expected to be a Blazers target after they lost big man Zach Collins to a left shoulder injury that required surgery.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari was also thought to be a potential replacement for Collins, but the Blazers opted to sign Carmelo Anthony instead.

“His journey to the Trail Blazers was less complicated,” Charania wrote of Anthony. “Portland had a clear need for a four-man, and many rival executives believed the organization would target Oklahoma City’s Danilo Gallinari or Cleveland’s Kevin Love in a trade after the loss of Collins. But as the losses piled up, and its franchise star Damian Lillard clearly needed more support, Portland needed to acquire someone immediately. The Trail Blazers made the call to Anthony and his representative, and one question remained within Anthony: Is this real — or a waste of time?”

Love grew up in Oregon, and a trade to Portland would have been a homecoming of sorts for the Cavaliers big man. One big issue that any team interested in trading for Love would have to deal with is his expensive multi-year contract.

He is currently in the first year of a four-year, $120 million deal. At 31 years of age, he would be a rather large financial gamble for many teams.

On the other hand, Anthony’s one-year, $2.1 million contract is very team-friendly. This most likely played a key role in the Blazers choosing to go in his direction rather than pursue a financially risky deal with Love.