If my post is going to be referred to as a "straw man" argument, at least spell "straw man" correctly.
I call it poetic license. I've not misspelled it. I've simply removed the space.
Moving on, no one who disagrees with me about "Stopping at Asik" mentions who else we would realistically get. Who could we really get?
Possibilities abound. Add a 1st rounder to Bradley, Green, or Asik for an upgrade at that position. Or consolidate some bench contracts (Bayless or Humphries via S&T) with a 1st for a an impact player. We can agree that Ainge can find a deal with those assets, even without naming specifics, surely.
Plus, Love wants Max money, that has been made quite clear. Rondo also has been clear about wanting really big money. Asik is going to get around 12 million so that puts us at around 50-55 million on three players.
Posters have demonstrated that Rondo will not necessarily ask for max money. Asik at 12 milion on his next contract? If that's true, sign and trade him to the team that wants to pay him that much, and recoup assets. If he commands that price tag, he's the #1 FA center out there. More grist for Ainge's trade mill.
So until we produce this other brilliant player I reserve the right to stick to my argument that we can realistically get those three and that would be it. This leads to my point that Love would be in the same place with us that he was with Minnesota: A team that is good but not great.
Then you're selling Ainge short. Because a Rondo/Love/Asik troika, plus Green and Bradley, probably wins the Atlantic. Meaning HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. Meaning, a playoff team that can make noise. Ainge will still have the MLE and additional assets to add to that starting five.
Also, I want to reiterate my point that why would WE want Love, regardless if HE wanted US. He has put up brilliant numbers but has never made the playoffs. I worry he is this great numbers guy but it does not translate to wins. I am shocked that a player putting up those kinds of numbers has never made the playoffs. Has that ever happened? Having a player who statistically was that good yet the team does not make the playoffs? I am at a loss to think of someone. On this point I want to say that I think Sullinger will be close to Love statistically yet will cost much less. I think this. I may be wrong. Willing to debate this point but judging where Sullinger has been to where he is headed I truly think he will be at 18 and 11 next year or darn close. Maybe I am way off base on Olynyk but he seemed to be trending toward a great 6th man.
I've got no problem with this. These are feelings, and I think they are legitimate, because they cannot be disproven. Sully could average 18 and 11. Olynyk could be a great 6th man. But Love has a demonstrated track record of performance. One could simply discredit him as "stat-padding", but if the Celtics with Sullinger and Olynyk aren't winning important games, couldn't the same be said of them if they put up big numbers?
Regarding exhausting our assets, I admit we have no clue how much we will need to give up
but from what is out there I think the price will be steep.
The price should be steep. Love is widely regarded as a top-10 or top-15 player. Boston will have to offer the Wolves value. But even if the price tag is Sully or KO, plus four picks (#6, #17, a future lottery-protected 1st, and the Philly "1st"), plus filler, I think that's worth the risk, and it still leaves plenty of bullets in Ainge's ammo belt.
Finally, I still think Minnesota will not deal to us because of our history with KG. That point was not assailed so I contend it is a viable point.
Only if Glen Taylor has a problem. No one else in the Wolves' FO was involved in the KG deal. And if Boston does offer the best value for Love, if the Wolves don't take it because of past history, they do themselves a disservice.
In the end I do not see Love as the magic bullet that KG was. Remember too that Ray Allen was dealt here because Seattle (Soon to be Oklahoma) was in full nuclear rebuild. We needed Allen first to get KG. We also were in a better place salary wise back then as well.
Love alone won't do it. He's talented, but Ainge would need to do more work. Asik would be a good complement to Love in the starting frontcourt, and there'd still be enough to add to the core going forward.
But, as you say, KG wasn't the magic bullet either. Ray Allen had to be secured before KG would agree to the trade, because he knew that Boston needed more to advance to contender level.
Love presents a terrific opportunity to add an All-Star caliber player to an All-Star caliber point guard. Having two All-Stars makes it easier to acquire a third. If the price is right, it's time for Ainge to strike.