Like it or not, Ainge in driver's seat for Love

[McHales Pits]

I dont want love. I hope danny doesnt give up the 5 or someone else beats our offer.

KO is going to be like a Love very soon(if not just a little worse, same mediocre defense).  No need to give up on the kid.  5th pick might make us pay in a year or two also

This is how I feel about sully.  In my eyes, sullinger developed quite a bit this year, already showing 20/10 potential, and a developing 3 pointer.  I dont want to lose him to bring in a player that is similar and has only marginally better potential (love).  Plus, I think we can get an all star caliber player at 6, (if we take gordon or vonleh).

Love is more than marginally better than Sullinger

[Sixth Man]

Three 1st rounders and Sully for K. Love is a terrible move.  KL is simply too much of a defensive liability to fork over such an array of assets, and a trade for him will not turn the Celts into a contender anytime soon.  Keep the 1st round picks and wait until 2015 to make a move for legitimate 2-way player. 

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

[Evantime34]

Three 1st rounders and Sully for K. Love is a terrible move.  KL is simply too much of a defensive liability to fork over such an array of assets, and a trade for him will not turn the Celts into a contender anytime soon.  Keep the 1st round picks and wait until 2015 to make a move for legitimate 2-way player. 

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

I think Love being a defensive liability is overblown. His 104 defensive rating was better than any Celtic last year. Love has higher defensive potential than both Sullinger and Olynyk so if you believe they can succeed you have to believe he can too

[tstorey_97]

From a broad perspective, Minnesota "must" get an adequate return for their "star."

I suggest, it would be our position to over value our draft picks.

Sullinger is obvious, T Wolves need to get a top young player in return.
This year's #6 is obvious, T Wolves are giving up more in value than Sullinger.
Two future #1's  assure that the deal will make sense to the fan base.

My point, the three draft picks above are just that..."draft picks." Beyond #6 this year who knows where those picks will be? Sure BKN is going to be bad, but, they certainly won't be "tanking for a high pick" will they?

The Celtics future first rounders will not be top 5 so who the he*& cares?

The trade for Love, if it takes place, puts the Celtic's into the playoffs somewhere and creates a possible landing spot for a top free agent.

Rondo + Love + ?? is a far more important dynamic than the 14th pick in the 2016 draft.

Ainge did not get these picks to select 5 mid first rounders over the next four years and watch them develop. In many cases a future first round pick has greater value in a trade than the actual player selected....they are currency and they are best spent on acquiring proven talent.

This, IMO, is how Ainge values this raft of first rounders as that is what he has done in the past. #5 = Jeff Green = Ray Allen = banner #17.
   

[saltlover]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

No, but there is an indication that Rondo will sign a long-term contract with us once reaching free agency.  Don't confuse wanting to reach free agency to sign a contract with being unwilling to stay in Boston.

Will Love stay in Boston if he's traded here?  I don't think anyone knows, including Love.  He might like it here, he might not.  But I would certainly bet on Love staying if the trade were made.  We can offer him more years, more money per year, and an environment where championships are the goal, and not merely making the post-season.  There's certainly a risk, and that should lower the price paid, but the risk is less than some posters would have you believe.  All we know is he's from California and he's tired of losing.  If we win with him, especially with a roster that's built for sustained success, I think the winning will trump California pretty quickly.  Besides, it's not like the Lakers are making the playoffs next year,  and if they do, they probably won't have room for Love in 2015.

[McHales Pits]

I'm baffled that there are some people who are so hesitant/afraid to bring Love aboard in an effort to contend and secure the Cs ability to contend in the next 5+ years...

What is the alternative? Hang onto all of these future picks that for all we know may be late-1st rounders, finish in the lottery again next season, watch our best player leave in FA, and essentially be in the basement of the league after that. Oh - but thank goodness that we have a Brooklyn 2018 pick.

Sullinger, plus a pick this year (that can't net us Embiid/Wiggins/Parker/Exum), a late 1st rounder next year, and roster junk isn't worth acquiring the one of the best players in the NBA today (who is only 25 BTW)? That is crazy to me.

Yeah - there is inherent risk because he isn't under contract after 2014-15. Thankfully we have a GM with assets and a proven ability to assemble a winning team. DA can turn this team into a Top-4 Eastern Conference team in a blink of an eye. Love would be an instant fan favorite. I don't see him leaving in FA after he experiences playoff basketball with the banners hanging over his head and hearing Cs fans cheer for him - not mentioning that by trading for him that we have the ability to offer the best financial package to him.

Don't be scared people. Let us not just sit here year until 2020 waiting for that perfect two-way superstar to find his way to Boston. Winning basketball sells tickets. Winning basketball generates more publicity and fan interest. Winning basketball is more fun to watch. Rondo + Love + Green/Bradley/Olynyk + Other Small Additions = Winning Team.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Any chance the Wolves just wait until the Trade Deadline--?
-or will they believe the best time is between Draft day and Opening day---?

[knuckleballer]

I'm baffled that there are some people who are so hesitant/afraid to bring Love aboard in an effort to contend and secure the Cs ability to contend in the next 5+ years...

What is the alternative? Hang onto all of these future picks that for all we know may be late-1st rounders, finish in the lottery again next season, watch our best player leave in FA, and essentially be in the basement of the league after that. Oh - but thank goodness that we have a Brooklyn 2018 pick.

Sullinger, plus a pick this year (that can't net us Embiid/Wiggins/Parker/Exum), a late 1st rounder next year, and roster junk isn't worth acquiring the one of the best players in the NBA today (who is only 25 BTW)? That is crazy to me.

Yeah - there is inherent risk because he isn't under contract after 2014-15. Thankfully we have a GM with assets and a proven ability to assemble a winning team. DA can turn this team into a Top-4 Eastern Conference team in a blink of an eye. Love would be an instant fan favorite. I don't see him leaving in FA after he experiences playoff basketball with the banners hanging over his head and hearing Cs fans cheer for him - not mentioning that by trading for him that we have the ability to offer the best financial package to him.

Don't be scared people. Let us not just sit here year until 2020 waiting for that perfect two-way superstar to find his way to Boston. Winning basketball sells tickets. Winning basketball generates more publicity and fan interest. Winning basketball is more fun to watch. Rondo + Love + Green/Bradley/Olynyk + Other Small Additions = Winning Team.

A lot of people are concerned that Love will not make the Celts a contender.
Rondo, Bradley, Green, Love, Oly/Asik plus a couple minor moves.  Is that really a contender?
Atlanta had been a winning team for awhile, but never good enough to contend and never able to add talent while picking in the early 20s every year.  Will that be the future if we trade for Love?

[McHales Pits]

A lot of people are concerned that Love will not make the Celts a contender.
Rondo, Bradley, Green, Love, Oly/Asik plus a couple minor moves.  Is that really a contender?
Atlanta had been a winning team for awhile, but never good enough to contend and never able to add talent while picking in the early 20s every year.  Will that be the future if we trade for Love?

If Kevin Martin is included as a salary offload in the deal, a nice player gets drafted at 17 (Napier or Payne are two rookies who can step right in and contribute), and Olynyk progresses - then yeah, I think that team could make some noise in the playoffs. Also, winning teams attract players. Who is to say that we couldn't become a destination for some future FAs or players who want to be traded?

Speaking frankly, I do feel a bit contradictory because I wanted PP/KG traded for assets to start the rebuild and now one year later I am sick of rebuilding and want to contend. But - I just think if you have a chance to get a star player who is just hitting his prime - it is a no brainier.

[jc3celticsphan]

why be so quick to give up number 6# if we dont have to.

jeff green and sullinger plus the 17th pick and future pick is still better then most could offer if minny like a better deal throw in #6 

[bucknersrevenge]

At this point, there is no indication that Rondo (or Love, if acquired) will forgo free agency to sign a long-term contract with us.

No, but there is an indication that Rondo will sign a long-term contract with us once reaching free agency.  Don't confuse wanting to reach free agency to sign a contract with being unwilling to stay in Boston.

Will Love stay in Boston if he's traded here?  I don't think anyone knows, including Love.  He might like it here, he might not.  But I would certainly bet on Love staying if the trade were made.  We can offer him more years, more money per year, and an environment where championships are the goal, and not merely making the post-season.  There's certainly a risk, and that should lower the price paid, but the risk is less than some posters would have you believe.  All we know is he's from California and he's tired of losing.  If we win with him, especially with a roster that's built for sustained success, I think the winning will trump California pretty quickly.  Besides, it's not like the Lakers are making the playoffs next year,  and if they do, they probably won't have room for Love in 2015.

TP.

For some reason people keep conveniently leaving this point out of their argument about "no certainty he will sign an extension". Not sure if it's convenience or ignorance. The same reason Love won't sign an extension right away is the same reason why Rondo won't sign an extension right away. It doesn't make sense financially for them to do so ahead of Free Agency where they have the chance to maybe earn more. It doesn't make sense for even Danny to offer one anyway and ruin his cap flexibility before he even has to which is why he'd be fine with making the RIGHT trade to bring Love in even without an extension.

IMO, the only way this deal doesn't happen is if Flip asks for too many picks and Danny can't make other moves. I'm pretty sure Danny would be very willing to make his pick at 6 and 17 and move right past Love if need be if he can't get Love at the price he wants. Hence I feel pretty comfortable. If we trade for Love it's gonna be at Danny's price and we can add more to him. If we don't, it will be because Minny wanted too much and if that happens I'm fine with that too.

[McHales Pits]

why be so quick to give up number 6# if we dont have to.

jeff green and sullinger plus the 17th pick and future pick is still better then most could offer if minny like a better deal throw in #6 

I think it is because by giving up the #6, DA can hang onto more of those future picks that everyone finds to be so valuable and don't want to give up.

If we give up #17, DA risks not offering the best package and would have to offer more of those future picks to sweeten the pot for Minny.

Also, why include Green? If the Cs are trading Love with eyes on contention, it would make sense to keep Green who is a serviceable scorer/defender from the wing in his prime on a reasonable contract. I'm not saying he is irreplaceable, but if we move him in this deal then it is just one more hole to be filled. Seems like he could be a placeholder of sorts until DA finds another SF he likes (and needs Green's contract as trade filler) or his contract expires in a few seasons.

[LooseCannon]

A lot of people are concerned that Love will not make the Celts a contender.
Rondo, Bradley, Green, Love, Oly/Asik plus a couple minor moves.  Is that really a contender?
Atlanta had been a winning team for awhile, but never good enough to contend and never able to add talent while picking in the early 20s every year.  Will that be the future if we trade for Love?

I believe a team with a Rondo/Bradley/Green/Love/Asik starting lineup can be contender.  The problem with Atlanta is that it had a lot invested in Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, two guys that aren't that good.

The Celtics may be able to acquire Love and Asik while parting with only half of their tradeable picks, so the team should be able to add talent through trades.

[saltlover]

A lot of people are concerned that Love will not make the Celts a contender.
Rondo, Bradley, Green, Love, Oly/Asik plus a couple minor moves.  Is that really a contender?
Atlanta had been a winning team for awhile, but never good enough to contend and never able to add talent while picking in the early 20s every year.  Will that be the future if we trade for Love?

I believe a team with a Rondo/Bradley/Green/Love/Asik starting lineup can be contender.  The problem with Atlanta is that it had a lot invested in Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, two guys that aren't that good.

The Celtics may be able to acquire Love and Asik while parting with only half of their tradeable picks, so the team should be able to add talent through trades.

Horford getting injured two of the last three years didn't help either.  I think we'd have been out in the first round of the 2012 playoffs against a healthy Horford for the entire series.  I'd have liked that team to make the ECF.

[jc3celticsphan]

why be so quick to give up number 6# if we dont have to.

jeff green and sullinger plus the 17th pick and future pick is still better then most could offer if minny like a better deal throw in #6 

I think it is because by giving up the #6, DA can hang onto more of those future picks that everyone finds to be so valuable and don't want to give up.

If we give up #17, DA risks not offering the best package and would have to offer more of those future picks to sweeten the pot for Minny.

Also, why include Green? If the Cs are trading Love with eyes on contention, it would make sense to keep Green who is a serviceable scorer/defender from the wing in his prime on a reasonable contract. I'm not saying he is irreplaceable, but if we move him in this deal then it is just one more hole to be filled. Seems like he could be a placeholder of sorts until DA finds another SF he likes (and needs Green's contract as trade filler) or his contract expires in a few seasons.

i think its too much. DA got a better chance of moving the number 6 pick with wallace  to free up cap space for that 3rd piece(melo who can opt out any time) .  even pierce can be signed for less and we still have cap to sign more players to contend

i dont see a trade we can make with #17 and jeff green unless its for a center and we cant just let bradley walk. we need cap space.

knicks would have almost no choice but to take the number 6 pick plus walace if they atleast want something in return