Wolves 'paving the way' for draft-day deal

[colincb]

Seems to contradict Flip Saunders' posturing.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-06-02/wolves-celtics-kevin-love-trade-rumors-nba-draft-free-agency-flip-saunders-vinny-del-negro

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While I'm here. a Real GM post about a Wojo appearance tonight on Fox:

"Wojo on Fox Sports 1, nothing too groundbreaking/new: Love wasn't in Boston for any kind of field trip, he brought his agent and trainer to take a hard look at the city of Boston and send a message to the Timberwolves that he wants out and if they don't trade him, he will absolutely leave them as a FA and they'll get nothing. Reiterated the Celtics are very high on the list of possible landing spots for Love, as he reported 2 weeks ago."


I also happen to think the real purpose of Love's visit here was to make sure T-Wolves don't drag their feet thinking he can be convinced to stay. The Cs are certainly a destination.

[Clench123]

I'm really hooked on this already.  I hope I don't get disappointed.

[JSD]

When Wojo says it, it's gold.

[BigAlTheFuture]

This trade better happen or I'll be highly disappointed.

[Chief Macho]

I'm still saying it doesn't happen.    I think the price will end up being too rich for Danny's blood.   If only the Celtics had a real prospect to send in the deal this thing would be much closer.

[Rondo9]

I'm still saying it doesn't happen.    I think the price will end up being too rich for Danny's blood.   If only the Celtics had a real prospect to send in the deal this thing would be much closer.

I still think that Danny will take that risk.

[Ogaju]

I heard earlier this evening from a friend that lives in Minnesota that the owner of the T-Wolves is on record as saying he wants to get something for love rather than lose him to free agency. So it sounds like Flip is alone on an Island with his threat about not dealing Love.

[droopdog7]

Lots of people want Love.  And I would be fine with it.  But the question is, what are folks willing to give up?

Seems like the #6 is a must.  And I would not hesitate to give them sully or KO or both.  But I'm not sure they hold much value.  My first best offer is the #6 and #17 and KO or sully.  My best best offer would be to add next years clippers pick.  But that's about as far as I would go.

Is that enough?  Not sure but we need to hold on the nets picks like a base head to crack.  They have a decent chance of turning to gold.

[j804]

Love wants to be here let's get this done Danny. It hasn't been the case with us lately we all know that you gotta go for it.

[j804]

I heard earlier this evening from a friend that lives in Minnesota that the owner of the T-Wolves is on record as saying he wants to get something for love rather than lose him to free agency. So it sounds like Flip is alone on an Island with his threat about not dealing Love.

they could always drag things out till the trade deadline too if they aren't happy with any of the offers

[Watch them all]

Dragging this out to to trade deadline means they miss out on a top pick in a deep draft. Not going to happen.

[j804]

Dragging this out to to trade deadline means they miss out on a top pick in a deep draft. Not going to happen.

it could if they want one of Brooklyn's picks

[Quetzalcoatl]

Can anybody shop a picture of Jared Sullinger in a TWolves jersey?  I want to start posting it on some Wolves blogs under my new accounts, WolvezFan32 and CassellSpreeKG4Eva

[Fafnir]

Dragging this out to to trade deadline means they miss out on a top pick in a deep draft. Not going to happen.

Kind of, they'd miss the chance to dictate the pick. They could still get a player from this draft class. Getting the guy you want has tremendous value of course.

I think Love gets dealt, makes too much sense for all involved at this point assuming teams don't low-ball the Wolves.

[obnoxiousmime]

Everyone seems to have ignored the part of the article where they mentioned the T-Wolves would want a young player with star potential which the Celtics do not have. As much as C's fans are optimistic about Sullinger or Olynyk, the reality is the rest of the league does not view them as highly. That's the weakest part of the Celtics' offer, along with the fact that the 6th pick in this draft is not as exciting as a top 3 one.

Sullinger is just not somebody you can sell your fans on when dealing a top player. If the Celtics had a top 3 pick then that player could have been the "star-potential" guy but it didn't happen. So now what Minnesota sees from the Celtics' offer is a bunch of B+ guys and some likely late first rounders.

The good thing for Boston fans is that the Celtics might still have the best offer out of the teams Love is willing to go to. We know that even though it's technically a trade, stars of Love's caliber in the NBA rarely go somewhere they don't want which makes it similar to free agency. Only in this case, the pool of suitors is smaller than a free agent situation because you still need something Minnesota finds acceptable to get a deal done.

The question is whether another team will offer what Boston can't, and that's a young player on the level of an Al Jefferson 7 years ago.