The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t have a second-round pick during the second day of the NBA draft on Thursday, but didn’t come away empty-handed.
The Blazers signed Arizona wing Caleb Love to a two-way contract, an NBA source told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news.
The 6-foot-4 Love, who worked out for the Blazers on May 27, scored 2,762 points during his five-year career.
The former five-star recruit out of St. Louis, Missouri, played his first three seasons at North Carolina, where he averaged 14.6 points per game.
Love transferred to Arizona for his final two seasons, where he averaged 17.6.
Despite his prolific scoring, Love went undrafted partly because he shot just 38% from the field for his career, including 39.8% last season. He also shot just 32.6% from three-point range, but hit a career-best 34% last season.
Arizona's Caleb Love vs. Duke's Tyrese Proctor (2024)
Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) during a NCAA college basketball game against Duke Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor (5) Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz.AP
The Blazers ended the season with a maximum of three players on two-way contracts: Guards Sidy Cissoko, Bryce McGowens, and Justin Minaya.
The addition of Love means one won’t be retained. But all four could be invited to training camp.
Love is considered to be an attacking and aggressive guard who can finish above the rim. He has the quickness and athleticism to create his own shot.
On defense, he is a competitor who utilizes his 6-9 wingspan.
His major weaknesses are his shot selection and inconsistency.
On Wednesday, the Blazers traded back from No. 11 during the first round of the draft to select center Yang Hensen from China with the No. 16 pick obtained from Memphis.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)