Outlining What Kevin Love Suitors Could Offer

[TheFlex]

Below you will find what it would take each potential trade partner to land Kevin Love. Grades serve to assess the best offers that could be made for Love's services. The grades depend primarily on the likelihood of the deal going through (which concerns the chances of the partner meeting the asking price, the partner's willingness to facilitate a deal without a guarantee regarding extending Love, and how the partner's offer stacks up with what competing bidders could offer from the perspective of the Wolves' FO).

Boston Celtics

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nc6vlu7

Boston sends: Brandon Bass, Keith Bogans, Joel Anthony, Jared Sullinger, 2014 BOS #6, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BKN 1st rounder

Minnesota sends: Kevin Love

Grade: A-

Chicago Bulls

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=pqop6k4

Chicago sends: Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, Jimmy Butler, 2014 CHI #16 & 18

Minnesota sends: Kevin Love

Grade: B-

Golden State Warriors

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=n22z5ks

Golden State sends: David Lee, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green

Minnesota sends: Kevin Love, Chase Budinger

Grade: C+

Houston Rockets

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=n5257u4

Houston sends: Omer Asik, Terrence Jones, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Beverley, 2014 HOU #25, 2016 HOU 1st rounder

Minnesota sends: Kevin Love

Grade: D+ (Parsons likely won't re-sign in Minny.)

Phoenix Suns

Phoenix sends: Goran Dragic, Channing Frye, Markieff Morris, 2014 PHX #14, 2015 LAL 1st rounder (top 5 protected in 2015, top 3 in 2016-2017, unprotected in 2018)

Minnesota sends: Kevin Love

Grade: D+ (Dragic/Morris have more value to Suns. Suns could end up relinquishing two lottery picks in this deal considering Lakers will tread water without securing their own Love deal. Doubtful PHX management is willing to take that risk without extending Love first.)

I didn't bother with the Knicks because their proposal would be graded F.

[fandrew]

Sorry, but Celtics won't trade more than 2 first round picks in a love deal. I just don't see that. They are giving two expiring, and one non guaranteed which makes sense, because it helps clear books for Minny, as part of a deal. But 3 picks for a guy that makes no promises to resign? That alone reduces value, so I don't see more than 2 picks unprotected.

[JSD]

Nice outline TP.


What if Houston offers Harden for Love straight up though? That's the A+ trade to me.

[Gainesville Celtic]

Nice work (tho I agree that BOS won't give up that much).

I think if MIN does move Love -- and therefore start a rebuild -- they'll use it as a chance to shed a bad contract or 2 (Kev. Martin and/or Barea). I don't see a Love trade being down without that.

For example, BOS could absorb KM's contract into Pierce's trade exception in addition to doing what youv'e suggested.

Any analysis w/o this element of a Love trade is incomplete IMO.

[CoachBo]

The Celtics will spend three of their nine first rounders for Love in a nano-second.

As they should.

[Roy H.]

I think that some of the other teams' "best offers" are incomplete.  For instance, Chicago could add Mirotic and/or a future pick, other teams could add additional draft picks, etc.

GC's point about absorbing additional salary is a good one, as well, although I hope this doesn't happen.  If we deal for Love, we need to put a team around him, and the trade exception would be helpful in doing that.

[chambers]

The Suns offer is the only one that comes close, but it also is the only one that is arguably better than ours.
Dragic and Morris AND picks.
They then trade Rubio for something nicer and run with

Dragic, Morris and Dieng as the future.

[LooseCannon]

GC's point about absorbing additional salary is a good one, as well, although I hope this doesn't happen.  If we deal for Love, we need to put a team around him, and the trade exception would be helpful in doing that.

What if a bidding war for Love extends beyond when the trade exception expires?  I could see the Timberwolves exploring the idea of trying to acquire players in an attempt to get Love to change his mind.

In that case, it might make sense to use the exception to acquire a complementary player like a rim-protecting center which the Celtics need anyways.

[Smokeeye123]

Only offer I've seen that rivals/beats ours is the GSW's

Klay Thompson/barnes/Lee pick for love filler would be a good haul talent wise for the wolves.

GSW could have a roster of

(PG) Stephen Curry
(G) Avery Bradley (if they sign him)
(SF) Andre Iguodala
(PF) Kevin Love
(C) Andrew Bogut


That is championship material imo.

[saltlover]

Only offer I've seen that rivals/beats ours is the GSW's

Klay Thompson/barnes/Lee pick for love filler would be a good haul talent wise for the wolves.

GSW could have a roster of

(PG) Stephen Curry
(G) Avery Bradley (if they sign him)
(SF) Andre Iguodala
(PF) Kevin Love
(C) Andrew Bogut


That is championship material imo.

Not sure what pick Golden State is offering.  They can' trade one until 2019.  (Actually, I guess that means a 2019 pick).

Also, Golden State is not signing Bradley.  They can only offer him the mid-level, and I'm quite certain Ainge would match that.

[mmmmm]

Nice work (tho I agree that BOS won't give up that much).

I think if MIN does move Love -- and therefore start a rebuild -- they'll use it as a chance to shed a bad contract or 2 (Kev. Martin and/or Barea). I don't see a Love trade being down without that.

For example, BOS could absorb KM's contract into Pierce's trade exception in addition to doing what youv'e suggested.

Any analysis w/o this element of a Love trade is incomplete IMO.

Whereas Boston _could_ use the TPE to absorb KM, I find it doubtful that they _would_, unless at least one of the first round picks outlined in the proposal came off the price.

Even then, I find it doubtful Danny want's to use the TPE to end up taking on Martin for 3 years at 7M.   He's not a bad player, but I think he would much rather use both the TPE and the cap room towards a big man.

Ignoring the KM issue, the price outlined for Boston is pretty steep.   Three first round picks, including one that is already vested at #6 in a strong draft and another (BKN 2016) that has a high probability of being in the lottery) is already a lot.   Considering that Sullinger is also a very recent 1st round pick (still on his rookie contract) who has already proven to be at least NBA capable (not a bust) and that's basically 4 first round picks of which only one is of dubious quality (the 2015 Clipper's pick).

I'm not sure I believe Danny will be willing to spend that much on Love.

[MBunge]

I think that some of the other teams' "best offers" are incomplete.  For instance, Chicago could add Mirotic and/or a future pick, other teams could add additional draft picks, etc.

The thing about future picks, though, is that the team acquiring Love is probably going to be pretty good.  Any of those deals, except maybe GSW, would make the team getting Love better and move additional picks into the mid to late 20s at best.  Boston and Phoenix are the only ones offering lottery picks this year and a realistic chance at lottery picks in the future.

Mike

[mmmmm]

GC's point about absorbing additional salary is a good one, as well, although I hope this doesn't happen.  If we deal for Love, we need to put a team around him, and the trade exception would be helpful in doing that.

What if a bidding war for Love extends beyond when the trade exception expires?  I could see the Timberwolves exploring the idea of trying to acquire players in an attempt to get Love to change his mind.

In that case, it might make sense to use the exception to acquire a complementary player like a rim-protecting center which the Celtics need anyways.

I think this makes sense. 

On one hand, if a bidding war pushes resolution of this out past the draft, which means all the 2014 selections will be realized -- that may or may not devalue the picks in Minnesota's eyes.

On the other hand, moving forward to try to use the TPE to pull in a rim-protecting big not only addresses a critical need for the roster, it also demonstrates to Love that the C's are serious about being competitive.

That may help Danny 'sell' the idea of coming to the C's which could, in turn put pressure on the T'Wolves.

[RRNoLookPass]

Below you will find what it would take each potential trade partner to land Kevin Love. Grades serve to assess the best offers that could be made for Love's services. The grades depend primarily on the likelihood of the deal going through (which concerns the chances of the partner meeting the asking price, the partner's willingness to facilitate a deal without a guarantee regarding extending Love, and how the partner's offer stacks up with what competing bidders could offer from the perspective of the Wolves' FO).

Boston Celtics

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nc6vlu7

Boston sends: Brandon Bass, Keith Bogans, Joel Anthony, Jared Sullinger, 2014 BOS #6, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BKN 1st rounder

I like the idea of dumping off Joel Neanderthal Anthony in any deal, but I think Boston would be giving up too many draft picks in that trade package. Sending Bass to Minnesota is a good call, and it helps make the money work, but there is no reason to include Sully AND 3 picks.

Exclude the 2015 BOS 1st rounder, and that deal sounds about right...That's the only way the trade would work anyways, because teams can not trade away 1st round draft picks in consecutive years. (For instance, that's part of why we got a 2014/2016/2018 pick package in the Brooklyn trade last summer.)

I also don't see Golden State giving up that much for Kevin Love. I don't think G.S. has any interest in trading away Klay Thompson. They also seem to be very high on Draymond Green after his breakout performance in the playoffs this yr. I can see the Warriors centering a package around David Lee and a cpl young prospects like Draymond Green & Harrison Barnes, but to give up all 3 of those guys AND Thompson for Love would be crazy steep...that's like half of their team.

[kozlodoev]

Boston sends: Brandon Bass, Keith Bogans, Joel Anthony, Jared Sullinger, 2014 BOS #6, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BKN 1st rounder.

This can only happen on draft day, since you can't trade out of consecutive drafts (2014 and 2015 in this case.