Portland Trail Blazers Rookie Watch - Caleb Love

A five-star recruit coming out of high school, a first-team All-Big 12 and All-Pac 12, and a two-time member of the All-American teams, yet somehow Caleb Love didn’t get any love from the NBA when it came to draft day. One week later, the Portland Trail Blazers offered Love a two-way contract, in what might have been among the offseason’s most underrated rookie deals. 

After completing a five-year college career, split between Arizona and North Carolina, in which he totaled 2,762 points, Love brings a proven scoring pedigree to Rip City. But it’s not just his ability to fill the basket that attracted the Blazers' management, but more so Love’s versatility, averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals during his final season with the Wildcats. Standing 6’6” with a 6’9” wingspan, Love is an aggressive guard who can finish above the rim, run the floor, or create his own shot off of his quickness and athleticism. 

Love’s versatility was on full display during the Las Vegas Summer League when he averaged 15.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over the course of five games, including a highlight game against the Pelicans when he recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. On a young Blazers team that features a backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, as well as veteran Jrue Holiday, Love’s two-way contract offers the team a perfect low-risk, high-reward option.

As the Trail Blazers still look to establish their identity, Love, who reminds some of former Blazer guard Anfernee Simons, will likely have to fight for minutes with the second unit as a combo guard. Capable of averaging 6-10 points, 2-3 assists, and 2-3 rebounds while shooting roughly 40% from the field, Love needs to provide coach Chauncey Billups with a reliable scorer and disruptive defender with the second unit.