NBC Sports-Chicago has a better offer for Love

[heyvik]

Well of course the Celtics might not get Love.

- Minnesota might decide to keep him and let the contract run out hoping their great season next year and the extra money they can offer would be enough to keep Love.

- In any scenario, trade to another team or stay in Minnesota, Love could hit free agency and decide to sign elsewhere

- Minnesota could get their best offer from any one of a number of teams and trade Love elsewhere

- Minnesota ownership could tell Saunders not to trade him to Boston regardless of the offer and trade Love elsewhere

- Love could not be traded and get seriously hurt early next season prompting Boston to pull their interest on Love

- A better player might become available and Boston might change the direction of their interest

Dear say, I think its a lot more likely on a probability case that Love not end up in Boston than that he does. I think most people just need to come to this conclusion, that the most likely scenario is Love doesn't come to Boston. Then again, there was a lot of negativity about KG's chances of landing in Boston before he did so unfortunately when trades play out in the public, there's going to be lots of ups and downs for fans. Just got to grin and bear it and have the patience to wait until something happens.

-

I think this is what's most likely going to happen! In fact, wasn't Melo in the same scenario and he forced his hand to the NYK's. But the Denver basically got what they wanted and took what they wanted from NYK.

Can you imagine the outrage from the Minnesota fans? the talk talk on ESPN? "Minnesota a farm team for the C's?"

Would LOVE to see KLove here but looks like its NOT gonna happen.
- I'm a realist not a pessimist.

[JOMVP]

I don't understand the logic of this.

Sullinger equals Gibson now and has a chance to improve into something much better.
Jeff Green is a better scorer than Jimmy Butler.

The 6th pick and 17th pick are much better than the late Chicago picks.

Plus unprotected Brooklyn picks coming up is probably a better return than Mrotic.

Celtics homerism or not. Its no comparison.

[cman88]

Well of course the Celtics might not get Love.

- Minnesota might decide to keep him and let the contract run out hoping their great season next year and the extra money they can offer would be enough to keep Love.

- In any scenario, trade to another team or stay in Minnesota, Love could hit free agency and decide to sign elsewhere

- Minnesota could get their best offer from any one of a number of teams and trade Love elsewhere

- Minnesota ownership could tell Saunders not to trade him to Boston regardless of the offer and trade Love elsewhere

- Love could not be traded and get seriously hurt early next season prompting Boston to pull their interest on Love

- A better player might become available and Boston might change the direction of their interest

Dear say, I think its a lot more likely on a probability case that Love not end up in Boston than that he does. I think most people just need to come to this conclusion, that the most likely scenario is Love doesn't come to Boston. Then again, there was a lot of negativity about KG's chances of landing in Boston before he did so unfortunately when trades play out in the public, there's going to be lots of ups and downs for fans. Just got to grin and bear it and have the patience to wait until something happens.

-

I think this is what's most likely going to happen! In fact, wasn't Melo in the same scenario and he forced his hand to the NYK's. But the Denver basically got what they wanted and took what they wanted from NYK.

Can you imagine the outrage from the Minnesota fans? the talk talk on ESPN? "Minnesota a farm team for the C's?"

Would LOVE to see KLove here but looks like its NOT gonna happen.
- I'm a realist not a pessimist.

If you think Minneosta isnt going to take the best deal because of what fans "might think" that is somewhat rediculous

Plus, I dont see what the Bulls can offer that the C's cant give a better offer. All this article is doing is pulling quotes from the Macmullen article.

ya know what I dont get? I see everyone posting how some "cs fans are cocky" and we "shouldnt get our hopes up" yet i would say 90% of the board is convinced we ARENT getting love and are convinced how we have nothing to offer

[wdleehi]

1)  Rehash of MacMullen.  Nothing new here

2)  This is the Bulls.  How many times in how many years have they "had the best offer" only to find out they would not give up one or two players when they lost out on the player? 

3)  Still nothing but posturing. 

[Roy H.]

Sullinger equals Gibson now and has a chance to improve into something much better.

I disagree with this.  Sully isn't on Gibson's level right now, due mostly to Gibson's very good defense.  Sully can eventually surpass Gibson, but he's not there yet.

[BballTim]

How can the wolves play their cards correctly in this situation?

This Is a question for the contract experts. So the wolves can tell love he cant get the max on his next contract unless he first signs with them

When is the earliest love can do a sign to a max then the wolves can trade him?

  I don't think it's in Minny's best interest to try and keep Love from getting a good payday if he leaves. Good luck trying to bring in good players after you do something like that.

[gpap]

Yeah, the title "Bulls have better offer" is really rather meaningless.

I mean it's quite possible the Bulls do have a better offer, but that doesn't mean Love will want to go there nor does it mean the Celts or another team couldn't trump that offer.

I am also starting to think that Sacramento could be a dark horse in all this.

They are willing to deal for Love even without an extension, plus they have some decent assets in McLemore, Thompson, picks and Rudy Gay's expiring if need be.

Plus, Love gets to play in the West Coast and a Love/Cousins front court could be something else!!

We'll see.

It seems the narrative is changing by the second.

[chambers]

This is just plain crap, put out by the Timberwolves.

With Butler+Gibson+Mirotic they would be very lucky to make the 8th seed.

Their line up would be:
Rubio
Brewer
Butler
Gibson
Pekovic

with Mirotic off the bench with their other scrubs.

They might move up to #11 or #12 in a best case by trading the #16 and #19 picks and get a solid SG draftee like Stauskas.

But who scores for this lineup ?
It's the worst offensive lineup in the NBA and somewhere around the middle of the pack defensively.
Its just role players with a half-star like Rubio.

*Gibson is aged 29 and has pretty much reached his ceiling at 16 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Good

*Butler is almost 25 and shoots 28% from three point land. He plays just under 39 minutes a game! and averages 13 points and 5 rebounds. Great defender but that's about it. He's like a poor man's Avery Bradley from the Celtics, who just guards bigger positions than PG/SG.

*Mirotic is a nice prospect. We don't know if he'll actually come to the NBA yet, but he's got good size and length with a beautiful shooting stroke and deep range. He would come off the bench for Gibson though and play maybe 20-25 a night for the Bulls. He's a terrible defender too.

Dunno if the Bulls are offering any picks as extras but you're basically moving Kevin Love for three role players and not making the playoffs, getting another middle first round pick while Flip Saunders pulls his hair out.

With a Celtics package of
#6
#17
Jared Sullinger
and either
Jeff Green, Avery Bradley (re-signed at say 4 million a year) or Bass (to make Salaries match and to take Kevin Martin off their hands)

You can take your pick of Gordon, Smart, Vonleh , Saric, Randle and take someone pretty nice at 17 as well.
Hell you could combine our 17th and your 13th to move up and get someone around #10 or even a bit better.
All cost controlled while Dieng is unleashed. Move Pekovic and take back some bad salary for more assets.
They need another star to build around like Love, although this time, hopefully management won't whiff on no brainer picks like Kahn was famous for.
But they ain't getting stars from anything the Bulls have.

The Wolves should be constructively tanking and their guys will be playing hard, playing together, and still ending up with a top 3-5 pick for the next 2 seasons. (like us)
Build some assets up, maybe bink an All Star or two with all those picks in the draft.

But they can't settle for the treadmill- I don't think Flip Saunders will- he and Taylor are tired of running on it.

My argument is that Flip needs to start from scratch, and build a squad like OKC from the ground up.
It's unlikely they get that star to build around with the #6 pick (although it's possible), but you need to start somewhere and the draft is likely the Timberwolves best bet to grab a franchise player or at least a few All Stars who'll want to stay in Minny past their rookie deals- just as you got KG and K Love.

[Tr1boy]

How can the wolves play their cards correctly in this situation?

This Is a question for the contract experts. So the wolves can tell love he cant get the max on his next contract unless he first signs with them

When is the earliest love can do a sign to a max then the wolves can trade him?

  I don't think it's in Minny's best interest to try and keep Love from getting a good payday if he leaves. Good luck trying to bring in good players after you do something like that.

I disasgree. If he is already signed up the wolves can really get overpaid and also love is paid the max. The teams that want to get him also get a relieve he will be on contract. Though they will have to give up a bit more

It would turn out to be a legit bidding war then

[BballTim]

Sullinger equals Gibson now and has a chance to improve into something much better.

I disagree with this.  Sully isn't on Gibson's level right now, due mostly to Gibson's very good defense.  Sully can eventually surpass Gibson, but he's not there yet.

  I think Sully's the better scorer and rebounder and he's like 6 years younger. I think that he's been fairly comparable when he's been healthy. Maybe a little worse, but not much.

[Tr1boy]

How can the wolves play their cards correctly in this situation?

This Is a question for the contract experts. So the wolves can tell love he cant get the max on his next contract unless he first signs with them

When is the earliest love can do a sign to a max then the wolves can trade him?

Anyone can clarify?

[cometboy]

The real wild card in all of this?

Minnesota

With some of the foolish moves they've made over the years, can they even be trusted to recognize the best deal when it's in front of them?

CB

[manl_lui]

I doubt that is true, I don't think their first round picks are better than ours, and in terms of up and coming players, beside Taj Gibson, I do not see who else have good trade value vs our Sully and Olynk package. And sure the Kings will trade the entire team besides Cousins to get Love.

I see this nothing more than a chess match between GMs, and I do not think Danny is stupid enough to fall for it, if anything, I see Danny let the Wolves go through with their bluff and trade Love to a team that he hates

[D.o.s.]

How can the wolves play their cards correctly in this situation?

This Is a question for the contract experts. So the wolves can tell love he cant get the max on his next contract unless he first signs with them

When is the earliest love can do a sign to a max then the wolves can trade him?

Anyone can clarify?

Why would the Wolves tell him something that isn't correct?

Love can sign a max contract as soon as he's a free agent -- he can opt in to one more year on his current deal, but if the Wolves said something like that (which, honestly, doesn't actually make sense the way its written: can you rephrase what you mean?) he'd just opt out and sign a max with another team.

The Wolves absolutely are not going to sign Love to a max contract and trade him.

[chambers]

Sullinger equals Gibson now and has a chance to improve into something much better.

I disagree with this.  Sully isn't on Gibson's level right now, due mostly to Gibson's very good defense.  Sully can eventually surpass Gibson, but he's not there yet.

Gibson is a decent defender but he's also come off the bench for most of his career to beat up on chumps and guys like Ian Mahinmi.
He's also next to Joahkim Noah which helps even more. Sully's been guarding starting NBA PF's and C's all season and done very well.

Gibson per 36: 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds
Sully per 36: 17.3 points, 10.6 rebounds

I believe Sully has a slightly better OPP than Gibson, but Gibson has more defensive win shares (again though, he's in between Noah and Jimmy Butler which helps a lot.
Also remember that Sully was playing out of position, and being basically forced by Stevens to shoot 3's to his heart's content which hurts his overall percentages.