Bullpett on WEEI soon , Woj on Felger @ 3:20pm

[ticket18]

They're hoping that Rubio, Dieng, and Muhammad improve, that Pekovic and Budinger are healthy, and that they get a contributor with the 13th pick.  Also, they are probably operating under the belief that they have gotten an upgrade over Rick Adelman.  It may require some bad luck on the injury front for a team currently above them, but I don't think it is a ludicrous notion that they might make the playoffs next season with Love.

And is a first round playoff loss, possibly a sweep, supposed to change Love's mind about staying?  A bunch of teams are setting themselves up to have cap room for the next offseason.  Does Minny really want to be somebody's NOT going to offer him a max deal to leave?

It might.

Moot point. That team does not make the playoffs in the West, not even close.

[footey]

If we draft Embiid, and Love stays, we should be able to have the cap space to sign Love as a FA in 2015, without giving up any assets, as well as Rondo.  A team starring Rondo, Love and Embiid, with Green, Sullinger, Olynyk, Bradley and our 17th pick

How are you going to get Love without Sully or Oly?  Do you expect them to give him to us?  One or both those guys will be in the deal most likely.

He's a FA in 2015.

[freshinthehouse]

So, Flip is playing a really dangerous game here...If Minnesota is going with the whole "These deals will still be there in February" idea, that could be the silliest thing I've heard.

No, Flip, these deals might not be there in February...The Celtics could find another trade partner, their picks could end up being beasts and they keep them...That's only two of the 500 possibilities that could happen from now, until February.

If you know you're losing Love, then you deal him now...You CAN'T assume that anything that is there today will be there tomorrow...That's bad management.  Not to say I'd be surprised......

I think Flip is banking on them being an improved team this year.   He has a weekly radio program in the Twin Cities, and I caught it one time after he had just announced he'd be coach.  They talked about what would be different between him and Adelman.  He had nothing but good things to say about Adelman, but he is of the belief that when you have two slow, earthbound bigs on the court like Pek and Love that you need to play a lot of zone on D, which is something Adelman rarely did.  Saunders is of the belief that they'll be a much better defensive team if they don't play just straight up man to man. 

Who knows if it'll make that much of a difference, but Saunders sure seemed confident of it.  My guess is between different coaching strategies and an upgraded roster spot or two he thinks they can get into the playoffs.

[Celtics4ever]

He's a FA in 2015.

So you think he comes here during free agency?   

[LooseCannon]

They're hoping that Rubio, Dieng, and Muhammad improve, that Pekovic and Budinger are healthy, and that they get a contributor with the 13th pick.  Also, they are probably operating under the belief that they have gotten an upgrade over Rick Adelman.  It may require some bad luck on the injury front for a team currently above them, but I don't think it is a ludicrous notion that they might make the playoffs next season with Love.

And is a first round playoff loss, possibly a sweep, supposed to change Love's mind about staying?  A bunch of teams are setting themselves up to have cap room for the next offseason.  Does Minny really want to be somebody's NOT going to offer him a max deal to leave?

It might.

Moot point. That team does not make the playoffs in the West, not even close.

I don't think it is impossible.

The Timberwolves have several young players who have room for improvement and a lottery pick in a deep draft to add talent.  They had a poor record in close games and that tends to be more due to luck than lack of skill, so they should be seen as a better team than their record this season.  They have a reasonable shot at being a 45-50 win team next season if they keep Love.  There's a chance they could be better.

I'd be intrigued by the idea of what Minnesota could do if they flipped Pekovic for a quality SF and started Dieng.

[LooseCannon]

Who knows if it'll make that much of a difference, but Saunders sure seemed confident of it.  My guess is between different coaching strategies and an upgraded roster spot or two he thinks they can get into the playoffs.

If you think he is destined to fail, maybe the right strategy is to build a roster that is prepared to accept a player like Love in a mid-season trade.

[droopdog7]

So, Flip is playing a really dangerous game here...If Minnesota is going with the whole "These deals will still be there in February" idea, that could be the silliest thing I've heard.

No, Flip, these deals might not be there in February...The Celtics could find another trade partner, their picks could end up being beasts and they keep them...That's only two of the 500 possibilities that could happen from now, until February.

If you know you're losing Love, then you deal him now...You CAN'T assume that anything that is there today will be there tomorrow...That's bad management.  Not to say I'd be surprised......

I've said from the start, if we were dealing with a competent gm this deal would be done by now.

flip is playing a game he's not equipped to play.

these teams that supposedly have better players than us only matter if Minn. has the ability to acquire a superstar to go along with these players. which they don't. no FA superstar is willingly going there(to go play with Klay Thompson (or even Sully/Oly for that matter)). trading for a superstar may happen. but what else after Love do they have to offer? and that's even if a superstar says he'll stay there if he does get traded there or even agrees to go there in the 1st place.

imo, Minn. only option is to build through the draft. I just don't think Flip realizes this. esp. considering he seems to be aiming for the "8th seed" next yr.

Do you realize how long Minn has been building through the draft?  On this point, I don't blame.  I'd be tired of losing too and try to build a team right now.  And as for Clay Thompson, I think he could break out into a top 10 scorer easily.  Is that enough win?  Who knows but I am sure that are sick and tired of playing the lottery game.

[Beat LA]

He's a FA in 2015.

So you think he comes here during free agency?

Yeah, right.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we've never gotten a big name free agent to come here.  Ever.  Not that it can't happen, I just wouldn't get your hopes up.

[cltc5]

Forget love we need to go after Harrison Barnes.  Trade the #17 and Jeff Green

[hpantazo]

Forget love we need to go after Harrison Barnes.  Trade the #17 and Jeff Green

Barnes couldn't help his team at all last year, and had many chances while Iggy was out, and while Bogut was out in the playoffs, and he got benched in favor of Draymond Green. I'd rather keep Jeff Green.

[Surferdad]

So, Flip is playing a really dangerous game here...If Minnesota is going with the whole "These deals will still be there in February" idea, that could be the silliest thing I've heard.

No, Flip, these deals might not be there in February...The Celtics could find another trade partner, their picks could end up being beasts and they keep them...That's only two of the 500 possibilities that could happen from now, until February.

If you know you're losing Love, then you deal him now...You CAN'T assume that anything that is there today will be there tomorrow...That's bad management.  Not to say I'd be surprised......

I've said from the start, if we were dealing with a competent gm this deal would be done by now.

flip is playing a game he's not equipped to play.

these teams that supposedly have better players than us only matter if Minn. has the ability to acquire a superstar to go along with these players. which they don't. no FA superstar is willingly going there(to go play with Klay Thompson (or even Sully/Oly for that matter)). trading for a superstar may happen. but what else after Love do they have to offer? and that's even if a superstar says he'll stay there if he does get traded there or even agrees to go there in the 1st place.

imo, Minn. only option is to build through the draft. I just don't think Flip realizes this. esp. considering he seems to be aiming for the "8th seed" next yr.

Do you realize how long Minn has been building through the draft?  On this point, I don't blame.  I'd be tired of losing too and try to build a team right now.  And as for Clay Thompson, I think he could break out into a top 10 scorer easily.  Is that enough win?  Who knows but I am sure that are sick and tired of playing the lottery game.

Minny's recent "win now" sentiment is a pipe dream. This league has shifted since The Decision nf now elite players can dictate where they go. They also can get together with other elite players and make superteams in the warm chic city of their choice. Of course this is not allowed by NBA rules but it is happening anyway because the elite players hold the cards. Minnesota?  Not likely.  If Flip was smart, he would build through the draft. 

[Frezz]

If the only reason they're hesitant to make a trade with the Celtics and are content witb hanging onto Love is because the last one they made together didn't work out, and they have a hard time selling that to the fanbase... then imagine selling to the fanbase that they lost their only good player for nothing, just so they could make the eight seed and get swept in the first round. I'd be furious if I was a Wolves fan. Talk about an ownership group not commiting to winning.

[cltc5]

Forget love we need to go after Harrison Barnes.  Trade the #17 and Jeff Green

Barnes couldn't help his team at all last year, and had many chances while Iggy was out, and while Bogut was out in the playoffs, and he got benched in favor of Draymond Green. I'd rather keep Jeff Green.

Sorry disagree.  Barnes needs the right fit, and Boston would suit him well.  He's underutilized in GS

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Forget love we need to go after Harrison Barnes.  Trade the #17 and Jeff Green

Barnes couldn't help his team at all last year, and had many chances while Iggy was out, and while Bogut was out in the playoffs, and he got benched in favor of Draymond Green. I'd rather keep Jeff Green.

Sorry disagree.  Barnes needs the right fit, and Boston would suit him well.  He's underutilized in GS

Jeff green is an amazing player when labeled as the 3rd or 4th option. I say that because any given day he could be playing like your 1st or 2nd. He needs players around him who can still carry a team while greens struggling  while knowing when its Green's time to shine. As our 1st options last year he was hit or miss every game usually on that missing side. Hopefully we could get him to a reasonable contract if we acquire the right assets

[Neurotic Guy]

Forget love we need to go after Harrison Barnes.  Trade the #17 and Jeff Green

Barnes couldn't help his team at all last year, and had many chances while Iggy was out, and while Bogut was out in the playoffs, and he got benched in favor of Draymond Green. I'd rather keep Jeff Green.

Sorry disagree.  Barnes needs the right fit, and Boston would suit him well.  He's underutilized in GS

Jeff green is an amazing player when labeled as the 3rd or 4th option. I say that because any given day he could be playing like your 1st or 2nd. He needs players around him who can still carry a team while greens struggling  while knowing when its Green's time to shine. As our 1st options last year he was hit or miss every game usually on that missing side. Hopefully we could get him to a reasonable contract if we acquire the right assets

I'd love to see Green focus on being a defensive and 3-point specialist. If he didn't have anything to worry about other than locking down his man and knocking down the 3, I think he'd become far more consistent and he'd take it to the hole only when opportunity presents itself. At 5-7M he'd be a valued player-- a bigger tony Allen and potentially a better James Posey.