We're not getting Love

[Monkhouse]

This is from a Timberwolves fan...

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

I know fans don't make the decisions but this seemed to be the consensus. I see 1-3 being fairly unrealistic.

I just don't see the Cavs trading away their first pick for a risk of Love not re-signing, so that's out.

Philly isn't even concerned with bringing in Love, although who knows if they could shock the world and supposedly grab him.

GSW looks the most interesting, but Klay is going to need to be re-signed too, and there is no guarantee that he will be happy in Wolves. Barnes is still young, so plenty of growth, but Lee just doesn't fit anywhere for the Wolves... Haven't they learned Pekovic/Lee isn't a good defensive duo. What makes it even worse you swap an inferior older veteran who can't space the floor as well as Love can.

Chicago is just funny.

I agree. Yesterday, I also thought Cleveland could've been a legit option to deal for Love, but then another poster on this site (it may have been you) intelligently made me realize "why on earth would Love want to sign an extension to play in that rathole in Cleveland?"

Also, no way the Cavs deal their 1 pick without Love signing an extension first.

Think it might have been me. I was writing about how QBs are the running joke once the NFL draft begins, and sometimes other draftee quarterbacks will joke with each other saying if they got drafted by the Browns, their career is over before it started.

I mean the idea of Kyrie/Love/LBJ is a very sick and deadly team. I just don't think Love would want to stay in an area where there is plenty of question marks, and Love is pretty selective of head coaches. So if he likes CBS, I see that also as a plus.

[fandrew]

This is from a Timberwolves fan...

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

I know fans don't make the decisions but this seemed to be the consensus. I see 1-3 being fairly unrealistic.

I just don't see the Cavs trading away their first pick for a risk of Love not re-signing, so that's out.

Philly isn't even concerned with bringing in Love, although who knows if they could shock the world and supposedly grab him.

GSW looks the most interesting, but Klay is going to need to be re-signed too, and there is no guarantee that he will be happy in Wolves. Barnes is still young, so plenty of growth, but Lee just doesn't fit anywhere for the Wolves... Haven't they learned Pekovic/Lee isn't a good defensive duo. What makes it even worse you swap an inferior older veteran who can't space the floor as well as Love can.

Chicago is just funny.

Lol ya exactly Love wont resign in Cleveland or Philly... Doubt the warriors would offer that package but its possible.. However Boston could always include another pick and/or Bass or Bogans... We also have enough cap space to take back a relatively bad contract such as KMart or Budinger..

I don't see Love resigning in Cleveland for one big reason: they have a horrible organization, a horrible market and they will never win championship as long as the organization is run by the same guys. How may times are you going to hire and fire Mike Brown? He is a terrible coach. Love wants to go to an organization that can put together a team that has a chance at winning. He doesn't want to go to Minnesota 1.2.

[Monkhouse]

This is from a Timberwolves fan...

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

I know fans don't make the decisions but this seemed to be the consensus. I see 1-3 being fairly unrealistic.

I just don't see the Cavs trading away their first pick for a risk of Love not re-signing, so that's out.

Philly isn't even concerned with bringing in Love, although who knows if they could shock the world and supposedly grab him.

GSW looks the most interesting, but Klay is going to need to be re-signed too, and there is no guarantee that he will be happy in Wolves. Barnes is still young, so plenty of growth, but Lee just doesn't fit anywhere for the Wolves... Haven't they learned Pekovic/Lee isn't a good defensive duo. What makes it even worse you swap an inferior older veteran who can't space the floor as well as Love can.

Chicago is just funny.

Lol ya exactly Love wont resign in Cleveland or Philly... Doubt the warriors would offer that package but its possible.. However Boston could always include another pick and/or Bass or Bogans... We also have enough cap space to take back a relatively bad contract such as KMart or Budinger..

I don't see Love resigning in Cleveland for one big reason: they have a horrible organization, a horrible market and they will never win championship as long as the organization is run by the same guys. How may times are you going to hire and fire Mike Brown? He is a terrible coach. Love wants to go to an organization that can put together a team that has a chance at winning. He doesn't want to go to Minnesota 1.2.

Minnesota 1.2 means you actually give Cleveland some credit..

I would say Cleveland failed almost everyone's expectations in CLE with the off-season moves they made...

Deng, Kyrie, Varejao, and Waiters couldn't even lead a team to a playoff berth considering how weak the East was...

That alone should tell you the impact of a terrible franchise, and not just the players.

[saltlover]

Either way, In Chicago, Golden State or Houston, those teams have the ability to give Minnesota plenty of talent and picks while remaining title contenders right away. We do not. If we trade the house for Love, we would have nothing else to get the third star needed to beat any title contender.

I believe Boston could give both of our first rounders this year and 1 or 2 future firsts.  None of those other three teams can even come close to matching that, given that it includes #'s 6 and 17 in a loaded draft.  Houston is also NOT trading Harden for Love.  Chicago is also going to offer up, what?  Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson along with a couple of 1st rounders that will very likely be in the mid to upper 20s?  I think what Boston can offer easily outdistances those deals.

Now, if Golden State is willing to give Thompson, Lee and Barnes, I'm not sure Boston can beat that.  That kind of talent infusion would prevent Minny from launching YET ANOTHER rebuild and provide tangible assets for future deals.

Mike

But again, all 3 of those guys (if I am not mistaken) will be free agents either next year or the year after.

Also, highly doubt any of them woud want to resign in Minnesota.

So essentially, the Wolves would've dealt Love for three 1-2 year rentals from Golden State, not to mention both teams are in the West.

Well, obviously as Ainge won't give up Sully and multiple firsts for Love unless he signs an extension, Minny won't take Thompson and Barnes without them signing extensions.

Mike

You do know that Barnes is only starting the third year of his rookie deal and can't sign an extension until the fourth year of his deal, so summer 2015, right?  It would be pretty foolish for Minny to turn down Barnes because he won't sign an extension a year before he's even eligible for one.

Also, even though Thompson is eligible now, or beginning in July at least, Minny would have months to negotiate one with him.  Even if they can't agree, he'll still be a restricted free agent the following summer, meaning Minny can just match any offer he's given.  Neither of them will leave Minnesota any time soon, unless the Wolves just don't want to keep them.

[PhoSita]

Golden State makes the most sense

Only if Minnesota thinks it can build around Lee + some combination of Harrison/Thompson and is okay with not getting draft picks.

I think that'd be a very strange deal to take, unless they think that they can try and make a playoff run around that team which is pretty nuts.

The Golden State package is analogous to the Odom / Scola / Martin deal the Hornets were at one point going to take for Chris Paul.  It makes some sense if the team is interested in being a .500ish team for the next few years.  But in the West that means missing the playoffs, so it's hard to justify.

[Fafnir]

I'm still shocked Dell Demps has a job.

[BleedGreen1989]

Golden State makes the most sense

Only if Minnesota thinks it can build around Lee + some combination of Harrison/Thompson and is okay with not getting draft picks.

I think that'd be a very strange deal to take, unless they think that they can try and make a playoff run around that team which is pretty nuts.

The Golden State package is analogous to the Odom / Scola / Martin deal the Hornets were at one point going to take for Chris Paul.  It makes some sense if the team is interested in being a .500ish team for the next few years.  But in the West that means missing the playoffs, so it's hard to justify.

Yeah, might make sense in the East, but not in the West.

[Roy H.]

The Golden State package is analogous to the Odom / Scola / Martin deal the Hornets were at one point going to take for Chris Paul.

It's funny how these trades work out.  Odom and Scola turned into garbage, but Martin probably would have given New Orleans as much as Gordon has, on a much more reasonable contract.  New Orleans would have also received Goran Dragic and the 16th pick in the 2012 draft.

In hindsight, the vetoed deal seems significantly better than the deal they took.

[Fafnir]

New Orleans would have also received Goran Dragic and the 16th pick in the 2012 draft.

Only after it was vetoed once and he screwed up that 10th pick with Rivers.

I'm not even sure the second deal got submitted.

[Roy H.]

New Orleans would have also received Goran Dragic and the 16th pick in the 2012 draft.

Only after it was vetoed once and he screwed up that 10th pick with Rivers.

I'm not even sure the second deal got submitted.

I don't remember the details, but both ESPN and the NY Times indicate that Dragic and the #1 were in the deal that Stern vetoed.

[Fafnir]

New Orleans would have also received Goran Dragic and the 16th pick in the 2012 draft.

Only after it was vetoed once and he screwed up that 10th pick with Rivers.

I'm not even sure the second deal got submitted.

I don't remember the details, but both ESPN and the NY Times indicate that Dragic and the #1 were in the deal that Stern vetoed.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7338172/sources-chris-paul-los-angeles-lakers-trade-resubmitted

Dragic and another pick were added after the first veto. Of course at that point Dragic hadn't broken out in Houston. He was quality starter level, not borderline all-star.

Edit: it is funny that the two "best" pieces of Scola/Odom fell off hugely and the Dragic/Martin would have provided all of the value of that trade.

[Sketch5]

This is from a Timberwolves fan...

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

I know fans don't make the decisions but this seemed to be the consensus. I see 1-3 being fairly unrealistic.

I just don't see the Cavs trading away their first pick for a risk of Love not re-signing, so that's out.

Philly isn't even concerned with bringing in Love, although who knows if they could shock the world and supposedly grab him.

GSW looks the most interesting, but Klay is going to need to be re-signed too, and there is no guarantee that he will be happy in Wolves. Barnes is still young, so plenty of growth, but Lee just doesn't fit anywhere for the Wolves... Haven't they learned Pekovic/Lee isn't a good defensive duo. What makes it even worse you swap an inferior older veteran who can't space the floor as well as Love can.

Chicago is just funny.

Lol ya exactly Love wont resign in Cleveland or Philly... Doubt the warriors would offer that package but its possible.. However Boston could always include another pick and/or Bass or Bogans... We also have enough cap space to take back a relatively bad contract such as KMart or Budinger..

I don't see Love resigning in Cleveland for one big reason: they have a horrible organization, a horrible market and they will never win championship as long as the organization is run by the same guys. How may times are you going to hire and fire Mike Brown? He is a terrible coach. Love wants to go to an organization that can put together a team that has a chance at winning. He doesn't want to go to Minnesota 1.2.

I agree that Love resigning, or even okaying going to Cleveland is slim. I know he doesn't have final say, but I don't think Minni and Flip being a new GM would so it against his will. It would look bad and make it hard to bring in players. At least DA put PP and KG in a good situation.

Cleveland and Philly could put together the best package around picks. Thats tough to give up if you're rebuilding. I've heard a couple times that GSW doesn't want to give up Thompson. Which makes sense, they loose a lot of scoring giving up both him and Lee, and Love wouldn't be able to help that. And Thompson is a good, very good wing that wouldn't be able to be replaced that easily for that cheap. Chicago is a joke and Huston doesn't have assets out side of Harden, and I don't see them getting rid of Harding for love, it's a bit of a lateral move.

So I can see Cleveland and Philly have the best first impression packages. But Boston can give you a player now, maybe two if you include a S&T with AB. Cap re leaf, and picks.

You could on draft night do the #6,PP TE, and future pick for Love. Than with wink wink, have a second trade for Player/'s X from the Wolves, for Sully, AB, and what ever expirings the Wolves want to take.

The Wolves will be bad and in the lotto again, but with a chance for a top 5, and with one of our picks next year, and one of the Nets picks the next three, plus a second round or two, they would be we're we are right now, and maybe with a young prospect to build around. 

[cb8883]

Please everyone just stop. We do not have the assets and the team that would be left if we did steal him from the Wolves would not win a thing, putting Love right back where he was, just further east. Here is a rather astute take from ESPN writer Amin Elhassan


Boston Celtics

Trade bait: Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Keith Bogans, picks

Pitch: The Celtics have a wealth of future picks from Brooklyn as well as an unprotected 2015 first-rounder from the Clippers and a protected 2015 first-rounder from Philly. Plus, the C's can offer some mildly interesting young talents like Sullinger, expiring deals in Bass and Anthony and Bogans' nonguaranteed $5.3 million deal. Love would play with Rajon Rondo in the East. But the offer to Minnesota and the prospects for Love pale in comparison to potential deals from other suitors.

There you have it. He rightly lists the Bulls, Warriors and Rockets as the teams who could honestly get him. Teams that have better talent to win now and a better perceived future. I am fairly convinced Love goes to Houston. It is warm, he admires McHale, the guy who picked him and groomed him along with the fact there are no state taxes in Houston.

Either way, In Chicago, Golden State or Houston, those teams have the ability to give Minnesota plenty of talent and picks while remaining title contenders right away. We do not. If we trade the house for Love, we would have nothing else to get the third star needed to beat any title contender.

Absolutely correct. All of you anti tankers must love this scenario. We're probably going to get the 8th seed battle hard all year and be stuck picking 14th-17th for the next decade. Ainge once again talking out of both sides of his mouth. I'm sure all of his non franchise cornerstone talk would have gone away if he got the 3rd pick. Should have tanked harder Danny. Either step down now before you do more damage to this organization or at the very least fire Stevens. Also Chicago has zero shot at keeping Love. It's too cold in Chicago. The only exception to this is New York because of marketing deals. He's going to California and that's a good thing for the Celtics. Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

[Roy H.]

New Orleans would have also received Goran Dragic and the 16th pick in the 2012 draft.

Only after it was vetoed once and he screwed up that 10th pick with Rivers.

I'm not even sure the second deal got submitted.

I don't remember the details, but both ESPN and the NY Times indicate that Dragic and the #1 were in the deal that Stern vetoed.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7338172/sources-chris-paul-los-angeles-lakers-trade-resubmitted

Dragic and another pick were added after the first veto. Of course at that point Dragic hadn't broken out in Houston. He was quality starter level, not borderline all-star.

I think you're misreading that story.

Here's a NY Times story from December 8, 2011. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html

Dragic and the #1 were included.  The story you linked to -- dated December 10, 2011 -- is sloppily written (thanks, Chris Broussard), but includes these quotes:

But sources close to the process told ESPN.com on Saturday afternoon that the Rockets have added unspecified players to the trade construction at the Hornets' request. The Rockets are prepared to make further tweaks, sources said, but have thus far been advised not to make any additional changes.

In the afternoon, Yahoo! Sports reported that New Orleans had re-engaged the Lakers and Rockets to try to make the needed changes to a trade that would have also delivered guard Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round pick to New Orleans.

Dragic and the 2012 pick weren't the new additions to the trade; they were already in it.  That's why Broussard indicates that the past trade (i.e., not the pending, re-submitted trade) "would have" included Dragic.

But regardless, the discussion of details misses the main point:  most fans thought the Lakers deal was horrible for New Orleans, and that the Clippers deal was better value.  In hindsight, Martin + Dragic + 16th pick is a much, much better deal than Gordon + 10th pick.

[Celtics4ever]

Because we all know GMs always listen to fans.