For the Kevin Love fans, he's in Boston checking the town out

[celticslove]

lengthy discussion already here
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=71227.0

[Mikedmx6]

As for poster that posted about rondo in lowell that isn't the story my cousin owns the bar and I was also there, and that was not even close to what happened. Rondo sat there in front smiling here and there and wasn't the friendliest but wasn't a ****, maybe arrogant. At the end of night as rondo, Rudy gay, Josh smith left some big kid lunged out cause the entourage knocked kids drink out and smith pushed kid away while bouncers tackled the kid.  I also got my rondo jersey signed by rondo that night so not as bad as he's made out to be. The guy is just quiet, shy, arrogant,  and misunderstood. All that matters is he's well liked around the league..ask melo. Rondo love melo.. get errrr done

[colincb]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/261334971.html?page=1&c=y

Here's an article the primary beat writer for the T-Wolves, Jerry Zagoda, wrote today ranking BOS as one of top 3 destinations given Love's preference and the packages offered. The writer is better than the average pundit, is plugged in to the team, and I've read him going back to when KG was there.

I'm guessing that the T-Wolves will go for a deal for players that get them into the playoffs as a late seed rather than reset the damage done from the David Kahn era. If they do, then we're losing out to any of several teams.  If the Wolves do the smart thing and build a solid foundation for a small market team, the Cs clearly have the most to offer (and from lurking on T-Wolves forums, their fans appear to think the same). The Wolves haven't done many smart things over the years, however.

[LooseCannon]

I'm guessing that the T-Wolves will go for a deal for players that get them into the playoffs as a late seed rather than reset the damage done from the David Kahn era. If they do, then we're losing out to any of several teams.

If that's what Minnesota wants, the Celtics should have options to flip some picks for the veteran starters that would fit their roster.

[Rondo9]

Forgot that Cleveland can offer the number one pick......

[colincb]

I'm guessing that the T-Wolves will go for a deal for players that get them into the playoffs as a late seed rather than reset the damage done from the David Kahn era. If they do, then we're losing out to any of several teams.

If that's what Minnesota wants, the Celtics should have options to flip some picks for the veteran starters that would fit their roster.

I don't think it's that easy. Maybe not impossible, but pretty tough to line up a lot of moving parts.

[colincb]

Forgot that Cleveland can offer the number one pick......

Is Love willing to go to Cleveland?  Been one of the worst run teams in the league and Love's running from another. 

I'm skeptical that Love's going to gamble on LBJ coming back. I don't think Love's going to black ball a lot of teams, but I suspect the Cavs, Kings, Bucks, and Sixers are all out.

[Kane3387]

I'm guessing that the T-Wolves will go for a deal for players that get them into the playoffs as a late seed rather than reset the damage done from the David Kahn era. If they do, then we're losing out to any of several teams.

If that's what Minnesota wants, the Celtics should have options to flip some picks for the veteran starters that would fit their roster.

I don't think it's that easy. Maybe not impossible, but pretty tough to line up a lot of moving parts.

Minny could just acquire the assets and then flip them on their own in separate deals.

[D.o.s.]

Not that it is some huge issue, but I dunno, I think some people here are underestimating Rondo's popularity with the fans, both in Boston and in the NBA in general.  For example, Rondo is #13 in jersey sales in a year where he didn't play hardly at all due to his knee injury.   Love's jersey sales aren't in the top 15.

Rondo has been to 4 all star games, to Love's 3.  I mean everyone always says that the all star voting is just a glorified popularity contest right?

I don't think it the obvious answer to say that Love's popularity would overnight eclipse Rondo's.  C's fans have a lot of Rondo memories.  They remember the championship season as he was coming into his own, they remember 2009 when RR almost averaged a triple double in the playoffs, they remember Rondo coming back from the dislocated elbow, being one of the leaders in the 2012 push against miami.

Everything you posted just explains why Love wants out of Minnesota.   If he's the star player on a Boston contender... no doubt he'd be a massive star in Boston.  I'd wager 100 TP's to anyone who doubts that his jersey would be Top 5 in sales. 

Again, my explanation isn't something I really want to get into right now... but there's a reason for why Kevin Love has national ad campaigns with Taco Bell and Pepsi despite playing in the dregs of Minnesota and having never made a playoff appearance.

He'd be a massive... massive star in Boston.

   Traded players sometimes get big bumps in jersey sales, other than that I wouldn't count on a big bump in popularity from moving to Boston. Paul Pierce never made the top 5 in jersey sales and I don't think he ever  got voted in as a starter in an all-star.

There's a pretty fundamental difference between Kevin Love and Paul Pierce. I have to believe you're being deliberately obtuse when you're not picking up on the rather obvious nuance.



























Kevin Love, obviously, isn't a surefire Hall of Famer.

[D.o.s.]

I would be very, very happy if we get Love, but before we all get too excited about his visit to Boston this weekend, let's remember that he doesn't need to visit LA or NY to know what those cities are about, he already knows them well.

What do the Lakers have to offer for Love aside from the number 7 pick? Also what assets do the Knicks have?

Oh, I fully agree, but if he communicates through his agent that he would re-sign in LA or NY but not Boston then we are screwed, assets or no assets.

Well the Lakers look like they'll be rebuilding and so are the Knicks. I'm not sure why he'll force his way to either team in their present state.

The Lakers have reportedly had their eye on Love for the past few seasons and he loves LA, got roots in LA, his uncle is a freakin Beach Boy member. I'm guessing his interest in NY is for the bright lights and big city fame, and maybe Phil Jackson.

 He's here in Boston for a reason and I doubt it's for the history or night life.

Yea obviously he's here to see if he wants to commit to playing for the celtics, but it doesn't in any way mean that he made up his mind and is not considering LA or NY as he had suggested earlier. All I am saying is that he doesn't need to visit those two places to help him decide, he already knows NY and LA well enough.

Right -- as it stands Golden State, Chicago, and Boston seem like the best places for Love to land if he wants to compete for a title -- in roughly that order, descending.

[Rondo9]

But in terms of attainability, It seems that the Celtics are in the lead.

[D.o.s.]

Right -- I think we can offer the best package (although I'm biased because I value our assets more than what the other teams have, obviously).

[crimson_stallion]

Yes, the Lakers were super excited when then got Howard too. How'd that work?

Your point? You can say that with any team that got a player and it didn't work out.

I think he's trying to point out the fact that the Lakers all jumped up and down like crazy when they got Dwight and instantly jumped on the 'title contender' bandwagon...until he missed much of the season with injury, proved he is a head case, and then bolted after a year.

In this case Love has a history of injury, has been criticised for being a bad team leader (and seems lacking in team loyalty given his trade demands), and will be a free agent after a year.

Not hard to see similarities....

Because love can walk in a year if he chooses!! Everyone says we can't get a lot for Rondo because teams don't want a one year rental but no one is worried about that with Love, really??

Dude, who cares???

It's not like whatever the Celts have to give up to get Love is going to be irreplaceable.

Umm...actually yes it is like that.

For Boston to get Love they WILL need to give up a lot.  They'll need to probably give up out #6 pick from this draft (which could very easilly develop to become an All-Star), would almost certainly have to give up one of our promising bigs (Sully or Olynyk), might have to give up one of our top scorers (either Bradley or Green), and would likely have to include many of the future first round picks that we just gave up two future hall of famers to get.

Then next year both Love AND Rondo are free agents.  Love walks, our chance of re-signing Rondo is reduced...he probably walks too. 

Suddenly Boston becomes quite possibly the worst team in the entire NBA, and has very few young assets (or future picks) to build with...while still lugging around the last year of Wallace's ugly contract.

Yeah...iif Love left, we'd basically be in just as bad a position as the Lakers are in now...actually worse, because at least they still have Kobe to attract some crowds and the lure of the city to bring in free agents.

Another thought that I'm surprised nobody here is pondering.  Kevin Love is demanding a trade from Minnesota because he's apparently fed up with playing on a losing team.  One of Boston's big trade assets is the #6 draft pick they just secured by being the 5th worst team in the entire NBA.

If Love comes to Boston, and Boston has another poor season of not making the playoffs...what makes you believe Love won't bolt just like he did from the Wolves?  What from Love's past suggests he has the type of loyalty to stick around a bad team?  Unlike guys like Kobe, Pierce, Wade and KG (who stuck by their teams for ~10 years, through thick and thin) Love has also shown that his first instinctive approach is to jump ship at the first sign of failure. 

[Celtics4ever]

I would assume any deal with predicate upon him signing an extension/contract upon coming here.

[BballTim]

I would be very, very happy if we get Love, but before we all get too excited about his visit to Boston this weekend, let's remember that he doesn't need to visit LA or NY to know what those cities are about, he already knows them well.

What do the Lakers have to offer for Love aside from the number 7 pick? Also what assets do the Knicks have?

Oh, I fully agree, but if he communicates through his agent that he would re-sign in LA or NY but not Boston then we are screwed, assets or no assets.

Well the Lakers look like they'll be rebuilding and so are the Knicks. I'm not sure why he'll force his way to either team in their present state.

The Lakers have reportedly had their eye on Love for the past few seasons and he loves LA, got roots in LA, his uncle is a freakin Beach Boy member. I'm guessing his interest in NY is for the bright lights and big city fame, and maybe Phil Jackson.

 He's here in Boston for a reason and I doubt it's for the history or night life.

Yea obviously he's here to see if he wants to commit to playing for the celtics, but it doesn't in any way mean that he made up his mind and is not considering LA or NY as he had suggested earlier. All I am saying is that he doesn't need to visit those two places to help him decide, he already knows NY and LA well enough.

Right -- as it stands Golden State, Chicago, and Boston seem like the best places for Love to land if he wants to compete for a title -- in roughly that order, descending.

  Considering Rose has played about 50 games in the last 3 years and what Chicago would have to give up to get Love I don't think that he'd be more likely to compete for a title if he went there.