Mannix Suggests Blazers’ Front Office ‘Needs to be Bold’

The Trail Blazers snapped a five-game losing streak on Friday, but they still sit six games below .500 on the season. Due to injuries and less-than-ideal performances, Portland’s record is a far cry from the optimistic preseason projections.

Due to their changing in fortunes, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix suggested that the Blazers should explore a big move prior to the trade deadline. After briefly framing his case, Mannix touched on the much-discussed idea of a move that would bring Kevin Love to Portland.

Portland is in a nosedive, and if they want to salvage this season, the front office needs to be bold. Portland has some big expiring contracts in Hassan Whiteside ($27 million) and Kent Bazemore ($19 million), and draft capital. Kevin Love’s name is regularly connected to Portland, and Love makes some sense. He won’t help Portland’s dreadful defense but his scoring would take the burden off the Blazers overworked backcourt and his floor spacing would create more space for them to operate. It’s a risk—Love is in the first year of a four-year, $120 million contract—but Portland has to do something … don’t they?

Earlier in the week, The New York Times writer Marc Stein revealed that the Cavaliers have a renewed optimism about the market surrounding Love.

Through 29 contests, Love is averaging 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. The 31-year-old big man agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension in the summer of 2018. Love is under contract through the 2022-23 season.