Let's assume we do get Love

[knuckleballer]

What is the best team that we can build around him?

I'm guessing we'd trade away Sullinger, picks 6 and 17, and a future Brooklyn pick as assets and Bass, Joel Anthony, and Bogans to make the trade work.

Then we could trade the TE and next year's Clippers pick for Asik.  Next re-sign Bradley and Bayless.
This will give us a roster of

1.  Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
2.  Bradley, Bayless
3.  Green, Wallace
4.  Love, Olynyk
5.  Asik, Olynyk, Faverani

I think that's probably a third or fourth seed in the East. 

Is there any way to build a stronger team than what I have suggested?

Is this team strong enough to convince Love to stay and sign an extension?

[McHales Pits]

Well for one - BOS could offer to take a bad contract off their hands in exchange for Bogans (non-guaranteed) and other expirings involved in the Love deal. Kevin Martin is signed through 16-17 (P. Option that year that will likely be exercised) at roughly 7M. They may want to get that off their books. Fortunately for us, KMart can actually play and he would add an element of shooting that the Cs need.

Okafor at the mid-level would be nice for 20 MPG, post defense, and leadership

James Johnson is an underutilized, yet talented and versatile  SF that can cover the James/Anthony/Durant's of the world that will be affordable

Rondo/Bayless
Bradley/Martin
Green/Johnson/Wallace
Love/Olynyk
Asik/Okafor/Faverani/Iverson

Find one more guard for that rotation and I'd be a happy camper

[fandrew]

What is the best team that we can build around him?

I'm guessing we'd trade away Sullinger, picks 6 and 17, and a future Brooklyn pick as assets and Bass, Joel Anthony, and Bogans to make the trade work.

Then we could trade the TE and next year's Clippers pick for Asik.  Next re-sign Bradley and Bayless.
This will give us a roster of

1.  Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
2.  Bradley, Bayless
3.  Green, Wallace
4.  Love, Olynyk
5.  Asik, Olynyk, Faverani

I think that's probably a third or fourth seed in the East. 

Is there any way to build a stronger team than what I have suggested?

Is this team strong enough to convince Love to stay and sign an extension?

I can't imagine that Danny would stop there. We need at least one more piece, a number 2 option behind Love, and ahead of either Bradley or Green.

Also, I don't really see Love being traded for 3 first round picks and Sullinger. I think it is believed that by next year Sully will be around a 20/10 guy, with better defense than Love. Especially if he gets in shape this offseason, and plays his natural position of PF. So any trade with Sully would probably include our lottery pick this year and a future first.

I imagine that Danny would want to keep our Nets pick this year, maybe even move up a few spots with it to get a solid guy who can immediately play and contribute.

[Monkhouse]

What is the best team that we can build around him?

I'm guessing we'd trade away Sullinger, picks 6 and 17, and a future Brooklyn pick as assets and Bass, Joel Anthony, and Bogans to make the trade work.

Then we could trade the TE and next year's Clippers pick for Asik.  Next re-sign Bradley and Bayless.
This will give us a roster of

1.  Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
2.  Bradley, Bayless
3.  Green, Wallace
4.  Love, Olynyk
5.  Asik, Olynyk, Faverani

I think that's probably a third or fourth seed in the East. 

Is there any way to build a stronger team than what I have suggested?

Is this team strong enough to convince Love to stay and sign an extension?

I can't imagine that Danny would stop there. We need at least one more piece, a number 2 option behind Love, and ahead of either Bradley or Green.

Also, I don't really see Love being traded for 3 first round picks and Sullinger. I think it is believed that by next year Sully will be around a 20/10 guy, with better defense than Love. Especially if he gets in shape this offseason, and plays his natural position of PF. So any trade with Sully would probably include our lottery pick this year and a future first.

I imagine that Danny would want to keep our Nets pick this year, maybe even move up a few spots with it to get a solid guy who can immediately play and contribute.

I don't know where Celtic blog users keep thinking Sully will ever be better than Love.

20/10 is Allstar numbers... I don't think Sully can pull off being an Allstar next year, I just don't see it...

Sully is 6.8'5 without shoes, and is a doughy PF that uses his bulk/weight to try to push himself into the paint. Sully is a smart defender, but by no means is he anywhere near the level of Kevin Love.

Like I've stated numerous times, Love is a underrated defender. Hes not a sieve anymore, and even though Sullinger put up good defensive numbers, I want to see him more and more later on before I reserve further judgement.

[CoachBo]

What is the best team that we can build around him?

I'm guessing we'd trade away Sullinger, picks 6 and 17, and a future Brooklyn pick as assets and Bass, Joel Anthony, and Bogans to make the trade work.

Then we could trade the TE and next year's Clippers pick for Asik.  Next re-sign Bradley and Bayless.
This will give us a roster of

1.  Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
2.  Bradley, Bayless
3.  Green, Wallace
4.  Love, Olynyk
5.  Asik, Olynyk, Faverani

I think that's probably a third or fourth seed in the East. 

Is there any way to build a stronger team than what I have suggested?

Is this team strong enough to convince Love to stay and sign an extension?

I can't imagine that Danny would stop there. We need at least one more piece, a number 2 option behind Love, and ahead of either Bradley or Green.

Also, I don't really see Love being traded for 3 first round picks and Sullinger. I think it is believed that by next year Sully will be around a 20/10 guy, with better defense than Love. Especially if he gets in shape this offseason, and plays his natural position of PF. So any trade with Sully would probably include our lottery pick this year and a future first.

I imagine that Danny would want to keep our Nets pick this year, maybe even move up a few spots with it to get a solid guy who can immediately play and contribute.

I don't know where Celtic blog users keep thinking Sully will ever be better than Love.

20/10 is Allstar numbers... I don't think Sully can pull off being an Allstar next year, I just don't see it...

Sully is 6.8'5 without shoes, and is a doughy PF that uses his bulk/weight to try to push himself into the paint. Sully is a smart defender, but by no means is he anywhere near the level of Kevin Love.

Like I've stated numerous times, Love is a underrated defender. Hes not a sieve anymore, and even though Sullinger put up good defensive numbers, I want to see him more and more later on before I reserve further judgement.

Agreed on all counts, including the myth that Love doesn't play any defense. Sullinger is a nice piece, but he's not Kevin Love now and he's never going to be Kevin Love.

As for Sullinger, he's never been in shape. Until he gets in shape, I'm going to wait to annoint him for a sure spot in Springfield.

[D Dub]

good topic, i've been holding hope for a klove trade for a couple years now.  here's how i'd play it--

Get both Love & Kevin Martin from the Wolves, give up KO and Sully if need be.  Why?  Because keeping Rondo absolutely requires we get a 3pt specialist to play 2. 

Wolves in
#6, #17, 2015 1st, Sully, KO, Bass, Bayless, Bogans, Anthony

Celts:
Love, Martin

- Get Asik for that same package, TE + Clips pick
- Resign Bradley
- Buy a 2nd round pick and get rotational big

That leaves us an 8 deep rotation of solid vets, with a ton of shooters to open up lanes for Rondo

   Rondo, Martin, Green, Love, Asik
   Bradley, Wallace, Humphries


I think this group leapfrog Indy as 2nd best in east.  Lots of defenders, can either go Big with Asik at 5, or play small with Love at 5 and Jeff Green/Wallace at 4.  If Danny can pull another 2nd round surprise out of this deep draft, I'd really like our chances. 

[AB_Celtic]

For me, if we get Love we need to surround him with 3 other types of players.
1. Facilitator
2. Defensive anchor
3. #2 scorer

We have 1 (Rondo) and could possibly get 2 (Asik), but unless we get 3 I don't think we're going anywhere. And frankly I don't think Jeff Green is consistent enough to be 3. There's a small chance Olynyk could become a 6th man scoring big, but we really need a reliable scorer on the wing.

Would Pierce come back if we had Rondo-Love-Asik? Maybe. I don't think Melo is coming here. Deng is an option but not an elite scorer. Gordon Hayward? Kinda in the Green mold for me.

I dunno, lots to think about.

[fandrew]

What is the best team that we can build around him?

I'm guessing we'd trade away Sullinger, picks 6 and 17, and a future Brooklyn pick as assets and Bass, Joel Anthony, and Bogans to make the trade work.

Then we could trade the TE and next year's Clippers pick for Asik.  Next re-sign Bradley and Bayless.
This will give us a roster of

1.  Rondo, Bayless, Pressey
2.  Bradley, Bayless
3.  Green, Wallace
4.  Love, Olynyk
5.  Asik, Olynyk, Faverani

I think that's probably a third or fourth seed in the East. 

Is there any way to build a stronger team than what I have suggested?

Is this team strong enough to convince Love to stay and sign an extension?

I can't imagine that Danny would stop there. We need at least one more piece, a number 2 option behind Love, and ahead of either Bradley or Green.

Also, I don't really see Love being traded for 3 first round picks and Sullinger. I think it is believed that by next year Sully will be around a 20/10 guy, with better defense than Love. Especially if he gets in shape this offseason, and plays his natural position of PF. So any trade with Sully would probably include our lottery pick this year and a future first.

I imagine that Danny would want to keep our Nets pick this year, maybe even move up a few spots with it to get a solid guy who can immediately play and contribute.

I don't know where Celtic blog users keep thinking Sully will ever be better than Love.

20/10 is Allstar numbers... I don't think Sully can pull off being an Allstar next year, I just don't see it...

Sully is 6.8'5 without shoes, and is a doughy PF that uses his bulk/weight to try to push himself into the paint. Sully is a smart defender, but by no means is he anywhere near the level of Kevin Love.

Like I've stated numerous times, Love is a underrated defender. Hes not a sieve anymore, and even though Sullinger put up good defensive numbers, I want to see him more and more later on before I reserve further judgement.

The issues with height are largely over rated. you may as well drop everyones height in the NBA by about two inches then, in which case Kevin Love is like a half inch taller than Sullinger, if that. The issue with Love as a defender is that he puts considerably less effort in defense. Sullinger actually tries, and when he is not playing center has shown to be an average defender in only his second year. He fouls a lot, but his fouls per 36 has gone down considerably from his first year to his second.

As to my comment about him becoming close to a 20/10 guy next year being scrutinized; Love is a 26/13 guy right now, so offensively next year Sully won't be at his level in all probability. But at the rate of his improvement from his first to second year, along with playing at his better position of PF, and significantly improving his conditioning and all around strength, there is no reason to think that he won't score more and rebound more next year. Additionally, if he is able to work on a decent 3 point shot that isn't just an in-season experiment, he would be adding greater versatility with his range to his game.

If these improvements are made this year, than it is likely that a trade for Love would not even need to be made because Sully would be able to fulfill some 80 of what Love does offensively anyhow, and with better defense. And 20/10 numbers are All Star numbers, but plenty of guys get those number but don't get voted to those teams.  Otherwise Zach Randolf would be an all star every year. So, yes, I think that Sully is that good.

[McHales Pits]

good topic, i've been holding hope for a klove trade for a couple years now.  here's how i'd play it--

Get both Love & Kevin Martin from the Wolves, give up KO and Sully if need be.  Why?  Because keeping Rondo absolutely requires we get a 3pt specialist to play 2. 

Wolves in
#6, #17, 2015 1st, Sully, KO, Bass, Bayless, Bogans, Anthony

Celts:
Love, Martin

- Get Asik for that same package, TE + Clips pick
- Resign Bradley
- Buy a 2nd round pick and get rotational big

That leaves us an 8 deep rotation of solid vets, with a ton of shooters to open up lanes for Rondo

   Rondo, Martin, Green, Love, Asik
   Bradley, Wallace, Humphries


I think this group leapfrog Indy as 2nd best in east.  Lots of defenders, can either go Big with Asik at 5, or play small with Love at 5 and Jeff Green/Wallace at 4.  If Danny can pull another 2nd round surprise out of this deep draft, I'd really like our chances.

Why give up both KO and Sullinger? I doubt it will cost both of these players - especially if we are sending both first rounders. I'd prefer to keep KO - not because I like him more than Sully - but I think keeping him allows us more versatility in the frontcourt because of his height. Sully and KLove are both 6'9"-6'10" - KO is 7'.

Also, Bayless cannot be traded. He is an UFA.

Then you say we need a rotational big after trading away all of our rotational bigs...

Send Sully, Bass, Bogans, Anthony, Johnson, #6, #17, future 1st or right to swap
Why Sully: "Kevin Love of the East", young and cost controlled, 13/8 presently, 17/10 per 36
Why Bass: The Wolves want veterans; Bass is consummate pro, useful player, and expiring
Why Bogans/Anthony/Johnson: Expiring or non-guaranteed to save money

Receive Love, Martin
Why Love: Top-10 NBA player
Why Martin: Saves money for Minny, but is a useful player and shooter (19 PPG and near 40% from 3)

Works on Trade machine
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ovmwvyl

[LooseCannon]

If these improvements are made this year, than it is likely that a trade for Love would not even need to be made because Sully would be able to fulfill some 80 of what Love does offensively anyhow, and with better defense. And 20/10 numbers are All Star numbers, but plenty of guys get those number but don't get voted to those teams.  Otherwise Zach Randolf would be an all star every year. So, yes, I think that Sully is that good.

Houston had a top ten center in Omer Asik and still went out and got Dwight Howard.  There is a similar justification for getting Love.  I doubt Sullinger is an all-star talent, but I have no doubts that Kevin Love is not just a legitimate All-Star but a legitimate MVP candidate.

[Jon]

If we were to get Love under the proposed deal, I'd love to expand the deal to include Kevin Martin.  He's still a pretty darn good player and a heck of a shooter.  I'd also make a move to grab Asik and then try to get Pierce at the MLE. 

We could then rock a starting 5 of the following:

Rondo
Martin
Pierce
Love
Asik

with at least Green and Olynyk on the bench (I'm not sure if Bradley would have to be signed and traded in an expanded Martin deal). 

That's a pretty impressive starting 5 with two strong bench players. 

I'd say that that would get them the 3 seed in the East and leave them enough assets to potentially add to it in the future. 

[BleedGreen1989]

Jeeze you guys, can we just focus on if we even get Kevin Love? Lol

[LooseCannon]

Jeeze you guys, can we just focus on if we even get Kevin Love? Lol

Focusing on Kevin Love may mean looking to acquire complementary pieces that make Boston more attractive before acquiring the star.

[knuckleballer]

If we were to get Love under the proposed deal, I'd love to expand the deal to include Kevin Martin.  He's still a pretty darn good player and a heck of a shooter.  I'd also make a move to grab Asik and then try to get Pierce at the MLE. 

We could then rock a starting 5 of the following:

Rondo
Martin
Pierce
Love
Asik

with at least Green and Olynyk on the bench (I'm not sure if Bradley would have to be signed and traded in an expanded Martin deal). 

That's a pretty impressive starting 5 with two strong bench players. 

I'd say that that would get them the 3 seed in the East and leave them enough assets to potentially add to it in the future.

I agree adding Kevin Martin to the deal would be a big upgrade to what I suggested.  I'd still keep Bradley.  I think his ideal role is as a defender and shooter off the bench.  If we could add Okafor and Pierce well (maybe wishful thinking) this team is shaping up pretty good.

1 Rondo, Bayless
2 Martin, Bradley
3 Pierce, Green
4 Love, Olynyk
5 Asik, Okafor

I think that team could contend.

[knuckleballer]

Jeeze you guys, can we just focus on if we even get Kevin Love? Lol

I'm not trying to get too far head, I'm wondering if it is worth trading for him.  You need to know if you can build a contender around him before making the expensive decision of acquiring him.  If the roster is no better than Minnesota's, we'll either be stuck in mediocrity like Minn or Love walks and we lose Sully and draft picks.