I like Kevin, but not for this team. We don't need to continue going 'round in circles. We need a frontcourt with a defensive presence or superstar. Preferably a star that can play defense. Love will be neither. Granted, we're probably not going to get that at 13 (which is why there is so much work to be done. We need to have a top 3 pick next year), but their are better options for us.
Ehh. The last time I checked we were drafting at number 12. Not 13. Look, lets talk about obvious team needs. Two stats that need to be improved the most are rebounding and assists. I personally put assists ahead of rebounding. Therefore, if I'm drafting, I'm drafting someone who has the ability to pass the basketball. Teams that are at the top in assists are always at the top in wins. So, I don't think Petrie is going to draft some tall, athletic, unskilled player with the hope that he someday turns into a rebounding, shot blocking, assist machine. He can't afford to gamble.
This, by the way, is not an endorsement of Love. I'm speaking in general terms. He may well solve the PF position via trade. He may also draft a SF with both scoreing and passing skills and then trade Artest and Salmons.
As far as knowing what Petrie is going to do, good luck. Remember Peja and Hedo. I don't think anyone predicted those picks. He goes to his own drummer and picks who he thinks will help the team regardless of projection.
Defense is mentioned a lot on this fourm and rebounding is the first line of defense. For every rebound you get, its one less posession for the other team. Steals and shot blocking get all the glory, but rebounding helps defense more that any other part of the game. Shot blocking is overrated in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, its nice to have, but its too subjective on the part of the officials to suit me. One official see's it as a blocked shot and another see's it as a foul. If you don't aquire the right reputation, you can foul out of every game trying to be a shot blocker. Plus, how many times have you seen the blocked shot get blocked right back to the other team and they score anyway. So what value did it have? Looks good on the stat sheet though.
Now, a few things about Love. I don't know if he's going to be poor, average, good, or great at the next level. But I do know that someone thats succeeded at a high level has a better chance to succeed at the next highest level. I've never understood the argument that one player that is outstanding at his current level is going to fail, and someone who is struggling at the same level is going to succeed, based on pie in the sky. I just think we need to keep a perspective on what the team needs. And as I stated above, I think assists come first.