We're not getting Love

[Roy H.]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

[Donoghus]

Because we all know GMs always listen to fans.

The ones that do usually become fans themselves in no time.

[BleedGreen1989]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

I'm amazed people still respond to this guy...

[Roy H.]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

I'm amazed people still respond to this guy...

It seems like a handful of people feel the same way.  I'm just trying to get a handle on the specifics of how "tanking harder" would have led to us being better in the long-run.

[Fafnir]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

I'm amazed people still respond to this guy...

It seems like a handful of people feel the same way.  I'm just trying to get a handle on the specifics of how "tanking harder" would have led to us being better in the long-run.

We'd have the 4th pick I guess if we choose to assume the lottery stays the same. (it wouldn't but meh)

Not exactly a game changing situation.

[Roy H.]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

[McHales Pits]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

Karl Towns Jr!!!

Olympic experience with the Dominican Republic team with Al Horford.

7' stretch four, 7'4" wingspan, 9'5" standing reach

Can shoot or put the ball on the floor to drive; can attack or pass

Getting the one and done Kentucky treatment. This guy is going to be legit!

[gpap]

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.

ROFL, are you for real?

[knuckleballer]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

Karl Towns Jr!!!

Olympic experience with the Dominican Republic team with Al Horford.

7' stretch four, 7'4" wingspan, 9'5" standing reach

Can shoot or put the ball on the floor to drive; can attack or pass

Getting the one and done Kentucky treatment. This guy is going to be legit!

Myles Turner looks like a nice prospect as well.

I'm working on our slogans now. 
  Lose for Okafor
  Going down for Towns
  Put the season on the burner for Turner

[Fafnir]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

It seems to be a common perception among the media. I know Zach Harper and Matt Moore both think that Bulls package of Butler/Gibson + 2 low picks is better than anything Boston has to offer.

[Roy H.]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

It seems to be a common perception among the media. I know Zach Harper and Matt Moore both think that Bulls package of Butler/Gibson + 2 low picks is better than anything Boston has to offer.

I don't see why the Twolves would want role players, even if they're high-end role players like Gibson and Butler. 

Now, add Mirotic to the package and at least Minnesota would be getting some solid potential in the deal.

(Speaking of Mirotic, I wonder how much brighter the Twolves future would be if they hadn't drafted him and then traded him to Chicago for the rights to Norris Cole, who they then flipped for Bojan Bogdanovic, who they then flipped for a future #2 and cash.)

[BleedGreen1989]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

It seems to be a common perception among the media. I know Zach Harper and Matt Moore both think that Bulls package of Butler/Gibson + 2 low picks is better than anything Boston has to offer.

I don't see why the Twolves would want role players, even if they're high-end role players like Gibson and Butler. 

Now, add Mirotic to the package and at least Minnesota would be getting some solid potential in the deal.

The issue with Mirotic is he may not even come over right now and I'm inclined to think he may be even more unwilling to come over if his rights get traded to a rebuilding Minnesota squad.

Then even when he does come over, he is out of the rookie scale and allows to negotiate whatever he wants for a contract I believe.

[D.o.s.]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

It seems to be a common perception among the media. I know Zach Harper and Matt Moore both think that Bulls package of Butler/Gibson + 2 low picks is better than anything Boston has to offer.

I don't see why the Twolves would want role players, even if they're high-end role players like Gibson and Butler. 

Now, add Mirotic to the package and at least Minnesota would be getting some solid potential in the deal.

The issue with Mirotic is he may not even come over right now and I'm inclined to think he may be even more unwilling to come over if his rights get traded to a rebuilding Minnesota squad.

Then even when he does come over, he is out of the rookie scale and allows to negotiate whatever he wants for a contract I believe.

That was always the plan for Mirotic, though -- and part of the reason the Bulls snagged him with the stash pick so early. The evidence for him coming over is because he's now out of the rookie scale.

[Lucky17]

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the analysis of the ESPN Insider article cited by the OP. 

This is the Bulls package that he thinks gets it done:  Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks

As much as I like Gibson, I'm not sure how taking on Boozer's bloated contract, Snell, and a couple of non-lottery picks is better than Sully + #6 + additional picks + shedding salary.

It seems to be a common perception among the media. I know Zach Harper and Matt Moore both think that Bulls package of Butler/Gibson + 2 low picks is better than anything Boston has to offer.

I don't see why the Twolves would want role players, even if they're high-end role players like Gibson and Butler. 

Now, add Mirotic to the package and at least Minnesota would be getting some solid potential in the deal.

The issue with Mirotic is he may not even come over right now and I'm inclined to think he may be even more unwilling to come over if his rights get traded to a rebuilding Minnesota squad.

Then even when he does come over, he is out of the rookie scale and allows to negotiate whatever he wants for a contract I believe.

That was always the plan for Mirotic, though -- and part of the reason the Bulls snagged him with the stash pick so early. The evidence for him coming over is because he's now out of the rookie scale.

Yes, although if the Bulls use up their cap space to chase after another free agent, or don't create cap space in the first place, I wonder if Mirotic will bother coming to the NBA if he's not making more money.

http://www.blogabull.com/2014/2/11/5401280/nikola-mirotic-chicago-bulls-nba-free-agency-2014

Mirotic is in a good position to ask for a lot of money, if he wants to. He makes about $4.4 million playing for Real Madrid this season, and he'll have to pay a large chunk of a buyout with the salary the Bulls pay him. Most projections have Mirotic making $7-8 million per season starting next year. I would not be surprised if that number continues to climb.

Though the $10 million per season number thrown out by the Spanish site is conjecture and not reporting, it wouldn't shock me if it ends being closer to $10 million than $7 million in annual salary. Mirotic has leverage, a good life and a good salary in Spain. He might as well ask for the moon. It does feel like he badly wants to play in the NBA soon, though, which is a great sign for the Bulls.

He speaks highly of Chicago, but I wonder if he might find as many nice things to say about Minnesota if the Wolves were willing to pay him something approaching $10 million a year to play for them.

[McHales Pits]

Stay the course and tank harder next year for Okafor.

... because it's been shown time and time again that the team that tanks hardest always ends up with the first pick.

Karl Towns Jr!!!

Olympic experience with the Dominican Republic team with Al Horford.

7' stretch four, 7'4" wingspan, 9'5" standing reach

Can shoot or put the ball on the floor to drive; can attack or pass

Getting the one and done Kentucky treatment. This guy is going to be legit!

Myles Turner looks like a nice prospect as well.

I'm working on our slogans now. 
  Lose for Okafor
  Going down for Towns
  Put the season on the burner for Turner

The Towns and Turner ones made me laugh out loud. Okafor needs work. Good luck with Mudiay (sp)