According to Chad Ford, Minny and GSW have agreed on the principles of the trade

[cman88]

hmmm

Jerry Zgoda @JerryZgoda

Flip: "There really is a lot of potential in this draft, a lot of guys in the top 10 who have chance to be All-Star type players."

if thats the case flip, we can get you a nice #6 pick

[heyvik]

I kinda feel that way too. I think Danny may add in Avery Bradley and switch Sully to  KO - AND add in a 1st. I'd feel he'll do that to make it look like Saunders got the best of Danny this time.

I don't see such a thing being reported anywhere else.

If it was a solid report then Ford would have broken it himself and not in a podcast.

He doesn't have sources on this likely as both sides are actively leaking the opposite, instead its what he thinks has happened. He views this all as posturing while they fight over the ancillary pieces.

Yeah, I typed up a similar post but it got ate.

There's no real news in the podcast, Ford's just informally saying he thinks the deal is inevitable since all the key pieces are on the table and they're just arguing over the rest.

Since no major draft picks appear to be in play this could easily stretch on past the draft, but Minny's leverage will drop off once the draft is over so they may want to finalize it by then.  Either way the GS package seems like the one they actually want, so if GS has agreed to the core of the deal it probably is a matter of time barring a huge falling out.

except that Woj says that GSW dont want to give up lee

Do you mean Klay?  I haven't heard anything about not wanting to give up Lee, especially since his contract isn't great and he plays the same position as Love.

Simmons mentions that GS's management appears to be disagreeing about including Klay, but that the owner is on the "trade him" side, which is why he and Ford think it'll happen sooner or later.

sorry, I mean Klay.

But also, I find it strange that we havent heard ANYTHING On the celtics front since last thursday towards the Kevin Love trade. usually that means Ainge has something up his sleeve.

[fairweatherfan]

Either way the GS package seems like the one they actually want.

Which is a great example of why some franchises remain terrible year after year after year.

I mean, Boston's deal isn't great and if Minny wanted to wait until the dust clears on the Miami 3 and Melo or even until the trade deadline, hoping for something better, that would make some sense.  But moving Thompson and Lee for Love and Martin, even if a 1st is also heading Minny's way, will easily become the 2nd worst thing in TWolf history.

Mike

I mostly agree, but I think it can be hard for fans of an established team with a great fan base like ours to relate to small markets' need to put butts in the seats and create optimism, even false optimism, in their cities and fans.  But real stars don't want to go to Minnesota, and mid-lotto to mid-first picks are typically crap shoots that take years to develop. 

Getting two guys who are perhaps a couple notches below All-Star caliber, and ideally a first as well...it has a very slim chance of moving them towards real contention, but I can absolutely see the appeal for them. They want to give their fans someone to root for, even though it won't be enough to make them elite.  Otherwise they just keep rolling the dice over and over again while revenue dries up and their other decent players make plans to skip town too.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and they're terrible drafters.  All the picks in the world don't help if you can't turn them into good players.

[More Banners]

I'm telling you what, Love is pretty much a sure thing entering his prime. I'll trade them all the potential that want for him.

[RJ87]

hmmm

Jerry Zgoda @JerryZgoda

Flip: "There really is a lot of potential in this draft, a lot of guys in the top 10 who have chance to be All-Star type players."

if thats the case flip, we can get you a nice #6 pick

He has no idea what he wants. Wasn't he just saying he could get the same value at #13 as he could in the top 8?

[j804]

hmmm

Jerry Zgoda @JerryZgoda

Flip: "There really is a lot of potential in this draft, a lot of guys in the top 10 who have chance to be All-Star type players."

if thats the case flip, we can get you a nice #6 pick

He has no idea what he wants. Wasn't he just saying he could get the same value at #13 as he could in the top 8?

Flip is starting to sound like he shares whatever Sterling has lol

[RJ87]

hmmm

Jerry Zgoda @JerryZgoda

Flip: "There really is a lot of potential in this draft, a lot of guys in the top 10 who have chance to be All-Star type players."

if thats the case flip, we can get you a nice #6 pick

He has no idea what he wants. Wasn't he just saying he could get the same value at #13 as he could in the top 8?

Flip is starting to sound like he shares whatever Sterling has lol

I'm convinced he's purposely doing a parody of himself at this point. It's like really, really good satire and we're just not appreciating it.

[Gomesfan]

Rumors to build up the value.... Minny leaks this crap in hopes that teams like the Celtics will show their hand!!!! IMO

[nacceltic]

What's weird is that he's super confident that Golden State is the leader and they've agreed on the principles of the deal, but there is ZERO mention of it on his Twitter feed or on ESPN.Com...Is he speculating in the podcast?  If not, why would he not write this or tweet it out?  Just strange...Or, he's not confident enough.

[joepatsfan]

GSW and Minny aren't doing a trade. Minny isn't settling for mediocrity.

Danny has yet to put his full hand down to flip. Wait until Thursday night when Flip sees the talent there at 6 and starts getting moist.

He's in the denial Celtics have the best package to help Minny have a shot at rebuilding but he knows taking a GSW offer sets Minny back even further while we could help them land 2-3 potential players.

Love is staying in Minny because Flip is a stubborn prick or he comes here. GSW would be ripped off giving up Klay and Lee too....

[blink]

Rumors to build up the value.... Minny leaks this crap in hopes that teams like the Celtics will show their hand!!!! IMO

TP.  Exactly.  Anything and everything we hear over the next 2 days is pretty much filled to the rim w/ bs and posturing.  At least it is almost draft time.  I for one am tired of all the fake rumors.

[colincb]

Steve Kyler said the issues aren't Love or Thompson, but the inclusion of Lee and Martin.  It's not at odds with Ford and Simmons and Lee's contract has always seemed to be a big hurdle to me.

I think the odds are 2/1 or 3/1 against us getting Love unfortunately, but who knows?  I don't see Danny blowing things up if he doesn't get Love, but if he does, I 'd bet the farm that Stevens goes back to the college ranks.

[Mikedmx6]

Okay so read this whole thing and it sounds more like he's trying to stir the pot with this supposed agreed in principle.  When we hear they agreed in principle term right away usually it's blasted everywhere and it's done... but he hasn't even posted this anywhere but him talking on a podcast. It stinks honestly because to me that's a new low, guys just making assumptions based on what he feels is the right value that's enough for love.  It's a crap shoot.  Anyone on this blog can say hey celtics agreed in principle but Bogans is holding the trade up.

[crimson_stallion]

This in a way would make me happy...only because I really don't think Love is a good fit in Boston. 

In fact of all the places he could go, Boston is probably the worst fit.  We already have multiple PF's who are young, good rebounders and mediocre defenders.  We have no rim protectors.  We have no go-to permitter scorers.  Also we are in rebuilding mode - not enough support to put around him to make us anything but a bottom tier playoff team.

[LooseCannon]

I think maybe people are misinterpreting what Ford said.  I don't think he is saying that Golden State and Minnesota have an agreement in principle that is all but done and just requires negotiation on minor points.  I think what Ford is saying is that the team are in agreement on the principal players who have to be involved in any trade, but neither side is ready to pull the trigger on a deal.

I think they've established that Lee has to be involved for salary-matching and that Minnesota isn't interested unless they get Klay Thompson.  Minnesota also wants Kevin Martin involved in any deal.

From Ford's point of view, this is a deal that isn't going to be killed by a disagreement over a first-round pick.  Where he is probably making a mistake is in over-estimating how willing the Warriors are to give up Thompson.  According to reports, the biggest voice in favor of keeping Thompson is Steve Kerr.  I'm not sure you can hire Kerr and give him that contract, then immediately undercut him by trading a young player that he wants to keep.  Then again, Golden State is said to have a dysfunctional front office.

On Minnesota's end, I suspect it might be Glen Taylor who is pushing for inclusion of Harrison Barnes and a first round pick, while Flip Saunders might be the guy who is willing to take less back than his owner.