Wow... Never seen Kevin Love so disappointed...

[PhoSita]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

I can't imagine how the Celtics to get Love without giving up the assets you mentioned.

Sullinger + filler + 2 future firsts, I guess?  I have to think the Wolves would want a top 10 pick in this year's draft.  I have a feeling some team will offer that to them (LA and Sacramento seem like they'd be willing to do so).


I was thinking, in such a trade the Wolves might also be interested in dumping Kevin Martin, since he's already 31 and has a few years left on his deal.  The Celtics could take him on, too, with a trade exception or perhaps a sign and trade, but doing so would make a subsequent move for Asik harder to put together.

[Monkhouse]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

I see what you're saying, but that's pretty much sacrilege.

Charles Barkley> Kevin Love.
http://bkref.com/tiny/S4MGR

You really don't like Love do you D.o.s, lol.

I do think at times Love is overrated, but hes also underrated, because there is literally no one on the Wolves besides Martin/Pekovic that can score. The Wolves have 29th ranked bench which is horrible... To put it into perspective, Celtics and Lakers have a bench ranked 2-3 spots ahead of them.

I thought the Wolves would be a dark horse playoff team, but now it should go to the Suns/Nets at this point.

I think the greatest thing about the Celtics is our Nets picks. Did you see how terrible and how hard it was to even get a lowly first round pick for Hawes/Turner? No one is going to give up any picks unless their packaged for a star, and we have plenty of that thanks to the hard capped rules of the CBA which make it detrimental to dole out any picks in which we have an abundance of.

I love the moves the Celtics have been making, I do think at some point Crawford should've been had for at least a first round pick, but who knows if the 76ers can become a playoff team next year? It seems most likely, which adds onto our overwhelming plethora of picks. Plus, at worse case it becomes 2 2nd rounders which can still be valuable.

I think Sullinger, a top 5 pick, and one or two of our future Nets pick is good enough to grab Love with matching salaries.

No matter what you guys say, Love is still a top 10 player in this league. You need superstars to compete, and the pick and pop of Rondo/Garnett was deadly in this league. I think Love could be just as good if not better considering he has the shooting touch, and the ability to knock down the 3.

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

I can't imagine how the Celtics to get Love without giving up the assets you mentioned.

Sullinger + filler + 2 future firsts, I guess?  I have to think the Wolves would want a top 10 pick in this year's draft.  I have a feeling some team will offer that to them (LA and Sacramento seem like they'd be willing to do so).


I was thinking, in such a trade the Wolves might also be interested in dumping Kevin Martin, since he's already 31 and has a few years left on his deal.  The Celtics could take him on, too, with a trade exception or perhaps a sign and trade, but doing so would make a subsequent move for Asik harder to put together.

If I'm correct, LA cannot trade away their pick this year due to consecutive picks given away. I don't know if that is different after draft day, but regardless do the Wolves want Pau Gasol, or whoever they can match?

[MBunge]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

Bass, filler and a future 1st for Asik.
Sully, Humphries on a one-year deal, filler and 3 firsts for Love.
Green, Bogans, filler and 4 firsts for Melo.

Is Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Love, Asik, Olynkyk, Bayless and a bunch of ring-chasing vets enough to win a title?

Mike

[D.o.s.]

I see what you're saying, but that's pretty much sacrilege.

Charles Barkley> Kevin Love.
http://bkref.com/tiny/S4MGR

You really don't like Love do you D.o.s, lol.

I mean, even if I did, he's no Charles Barkley.

[Monkhouse]

I see what you're saying, but that's pretty much sacrilege.

Charles Barkley> Kevin Love.
http://bkref.com/tiny/S4MGR

You really don't like Love do you D.o.s, lol.

I mean, even if I did, he's no Charles Barkley.

Totally different players, and Barkley was one of the best Power Forwards, but also was able to abuse players in the paint until the 3 second rule got implemented.

[PhoSita]

If I'm correct, LA cannot trade away their pick this year due to consecutive picks given away. I don't know if that is different after draft day, but regardless do the Wolves want Pau Gasol, or whoever they can match?

My understanding of the rule is that a team can choose to trade the current pick even though future picks have been traded away; the rule prevents a team from making a trade involving multiple picks that are in consecutive years.

Maybe I've misunderstood the rule, though.  In any case, they could always draft the player on draft day and then trade him not long after.

[LilRip]

Love is legit and one of the best in his position. In terms of current day 4's, I'd take only Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin ahead of him. LMA would be my 4th.

Love is not MVP-level Dirk though. MVP-level Dirk should've won a ring, if the refs didn't call a foul on every Maverick player and gift Wade for his flops. FWIW, in terms of current players, if all were in their prime, i'd take KG, Duncan, Dirk, then AD and BG, before KLove.

[Monkhouse]

Love is legit and one of the best in his position. In terms of current day 4's, I'd take only Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin ahead of him. LMA would be my 4th.

Love is not MVP-level Dirk though. MVP-level Dirk should've won a ring, if the refs didn't call a foul on every Maverick player and gift Wade for his flops. FWIW, in terms of current players, if all were in their prime, i'd take KG, Duncan, Dirk, then AD and BG, before KLove.

I think Love would have a far bigger impact on the Clippers than BG, but BG is still a top 3 PF.

I would take Duncan, KG, Dirk, AD, then K-Love and BG finally.

I still think Love is the best PF in terms of everything you need.

The fact is Love isn't that bad of a defender this year...

With Love on the bench, the Wolves are 2 points worse defensively. So the stigma that Love is horrible defensively is overstated, and only applies to his past years.

[D.o.s.]

Monkhouse, I think we make a great yin and yang when it comes to Kevin Love.

To my eyes, the dude is a terrible defender. Full stop. I'll let Tyson Chandler supply the nuance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKto9xsrNQo

[Monkhouse]

Monkhouse, I think we make a great yin and yang when it comes to Kevin Love.

To my eyes, the dude is a terrible defender. Full stop. I'll let Tyson Chandler supply the nuance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKto9xsrNQo

I mean he is still a terrible defender given that he is ranked the top 5 PF. But at some point was so BG.

Blake has everything that you need in a good defender, except hes short, and has even shorter wingspan. Whereas Love is opposite, has ideal 6'10 height, above average wing span, and in my mind, better basketball IQ.

But BG has improved, and so has Love, despite the marginal improvement. I think Love will focus more on defense, if he isn't always having to be the one person scoring every game. You can tell he gets tired or gassed in the 4th, because literally no else besides Martin/Pekovic are scorers. Pekovic isn't even a good scorer, but he uses his bulk and size to bully people inside.

As for Chandler... He shouldn't even talk. He has literally done nothing this year to prove anything. Yes Woodson is a terrible coach that hasn't emphasized defense, and half of his players seem lost on defense. But Chandler is also to blame.

[moiso]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

Bass, filler and a future 1st for Asik.
Sully, Humphries on a one-year deal, filler and 3 firsts for Love.
Green, Bogans, filler and 4 firsts for Melo.

Is Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Love, Asik, Olynkyk, Bayless and a bunch of ring-chasing vets enough to win a title?

Mike

I don't like the Love and Melo combo.  I don't think we need two allstar power forwards on one team.  Melo already has trouble guarding 3's and will become increasingly overmatched by them as he ages.

[CFAN38]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

Bass, filler and a future 1st for Asik.
Sully, Humphries on a one-year deal, filler and 3 firsts for Love.
Green, Bogans, filler and 4 firsts for Melo.

Is Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Love, Asik, Olynkyk, Bayless and a bunch of ring-chasing vets enough to win a title?

Mike

I don't like the Love and Melo combo.  I don't think we need two allstar power forwards on one team.  Melo already has trouble guarding 3's and will become increasingly overmatched by them as he ages.

I agree a Melo Love combo is a nightmare on defense.

[Monkhouse]

I think if the Celtics can get Love without giving up Rondo, their first round pick if it is top 5 and any of the future Net picks, it is a slam dunk trade for them. 

They would need to find that C to go next to him,

Bass, filler and a future 1st for Asik.
Sully, Humphries on a one-year deal, filler and 3 firsts for Love.
Green, Bogans, filler and 4 firsts for Melo.

Is Rondo, Bradley, Melo, Love, Asik, Olynkyk, Bayless and a bunch of ring-chasing vets enough to win a title?

Mike

I don't like the Love and Melo combo.  I don't think we need two allstar power forwards on one team.  Melo already has trouble guarding 3's and will become increasingly overmatched by them as he ages.

I think if DA ever picks him up, that he would be our SF for the future. Yes he has trouble guarding 3's, but hopefully with the right system under CBS, he'd be able to make it work.

Regardless, I still wouldn't want Melo here if K-Love is here.

We don't need two alpha dogs, and Melo can't pass.

My pipe dream is that we can get Kawhi Leonard. Kid is going to be a stud in the NBA.

[Fafnir]

able to abuse players in the paint until the 3 second rule got implemented.

Charles Barkley played pre-1936?

[CoachBo]

A couple points as somebody who attends a lot of Wolves games.  I think Love is at the end of his rope.  He still plays hard, but his frustration with his team and the league is at an all time high.  He's NOT a natural leader, but he is a personable guy and I think he finds himself playing alongside "friends" who just can't get it done.  Some other team notes...

Martin has been pretty solid.  You might not like his efficiency, but he's the go-to ISO guy when they need a bucket.  He takes a lot of tough shots and he's been consistent when healthy.

Rubio is a fringe NBA player.  I don't care what the numbers or highlight reels say, opposing coaches exploit him in most games.  He's shooting better recently, but it comes and goes, and when it goes it really goes.  You don't know if it's gonna hit rim or backboard first.  He is exceptional at getting in the passing lanes.

A few guys commented the other day that they don't think Love is an elite player.  Maybe they were trolling.  If not, they're crazy.  Love is top 10.  Arguably the best rebounder in the league.  THE best 3pt shooting big.  Off-the-charts IQ.  Elite post up game.  Number 3 in PER behind you-know-who.  Blake is the only PF who's been better this year, and if you paired Love with Deandre Jordan, that would probably change.  Honorable mention to Davis.

If you have a chance to get Love on a long-term deal, you absolutely do it.  Olynyk, Bradley, filler, and both our 1st round picks?  Yes.  No question.

Finally, a realistic fact-based assessment of Love's game - although I completely disagree on what it will take to land him. The Wolves will laugh at KO and Bradley.

If Danny can land Kevin Love, it's a huge step in the rebuild. Absolutely huge.