Really wanted Love...

[Monkhouse]

Sigh, I guess its just because while Pierce was one of my biggest/favorite Celtics, I had grown to love Rondo just the same. I was never able to really witness Pierce in his prime, so I relied on highlights, due to my young age, and I wasn't really into basketball at the time.

Its going to be tough, because I seriously think Rondo is on his way out. It seems like we're going for the youth movement. I would have loved to keep Rondo, and try to bring in Love through 2 of our Nets pick, Sully/KO/ 1-2 draft picks, (Clippers/Celtics,) but it seems like Ainge has given up in trying to bring in Love.

I guess this is just a post/rant. I'm a huge fan of Rondo, and whenever I play basketball, I always try to emulate my game towards him in terms of being able to pass the ball, and working on defense/team help.

One of my favorite games to watch was when Rondo came back from the Heat ECF, where Wade dislocated his elbow, and he had that one handed finish while driving inside from a one man fast break from a defensive rebound.

Rondo dropping over 40 points will also be one of my favorite memories, alongside his triple double averages against the Bulls.

I'm not saying Rondo is definitely out, but as far as I'm concerned, it seems like it.

Is it really a pipe dream to believe Love will still possibly come here? Saunders/Love's camp has been mad quiet, and Love himself stated he would demand to be out by July 1st.

Its now July 2nd, or nearing 30 minutes from it. It seems like Love is either going to be sent out to another team that failed to capitalize on Melo, and will most likely re-sign if sent to Bulls/GSW.

Love/Rondo/Smart would have been one of the funnest teams to watch from my POV. Pick and roll would've been really nice to watch, and I think Rondo could've led the league in assists if Love ever came here.

[DTownCelticsFan]

I personally still think there's a chance the Celtics can land Kevin Love. In my opinion the reason Rondo is still in Boston and hasn't been traded yet is because Kevin Love is still in Minny. If the Wolves trade love to a team other than the Celtics I think that's when you will see Rondo moved.

[Monkhouse]

I personally still think there's a chance the Celtics can land Kevin Love. In my opinion the reason Rondo is still in Boston and hasn't been traded yet is because Kevin Love is still in Minny. If the Wolves trade love to a team other than the Celtics I think that's when you will see Rondo moved.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

I honestly don't care why people think the Nets pick are bound to be lottery picks. There is no guarantee. Who knows if the departure of Kidd would make the Nets a better team... But with the Nets owner clearly coming out and saying this is a lost season, and focusing on trying to cut down cap space, we can most likely see him blowing it up. That means at least one of those picks will be lottery bound, and I'm hoping Ainge can convince Saunders to bite on that.

Picks are just picks. There is no guarantee you could get a top 5 pick... We were lottery bound to at least end up in the top 5, and we ended up with the sixth pick.

I would love to keep Smart/Young. Picks to me are very valuable, but they are just an asset with no clear identity. If the Wolves want to re-build, and not make the playoffs on a whim while being a first round exit, the Celtics can definitely offer a competitive package.

I really would love to keep Rondo here. He reminds me exactly what a Celtic is, hard working defender, who makes everyone around him better, while remaining a tough/gritty player, and not backing down to anyone.

[Monkhouse]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

[gpap]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

Not necessarily.

Couldn't the Bradley signing be used as a sign and trade in a deal to get Love?

[saltlover]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

Not necessarily.

Couldn't the Bradley signing be used as a sign and trade in a deal to get Love?

No.  He cannot be traded until January 15th at this point (well, once he signs his contract).  Sign-and-trades require the traded player to agree to the trade -- he's technically signing a contract with the new team.  If he were going to Minny, there's no question it would be known by this point.

That said, I still think Love is very possible to acquire.

[LooseCannon]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead.

It doesn't change a thing.  Bradley wasn't going to be signed and traded as part of a Love deal.

[gpap]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

Not necessarily.

Couldn't the Bradley signing be used as a sign and trade in a deal to get Love?

No.  He cannot be traded until January 15th.

Ok. I thought because these free agent signings don't become official til July 10th that the Celts could then flip Bradley in a trade between now and then.

[Monkhouse]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

Not necessarily.

Couldn't the Bradley signing be used as a sign and trade in a deal to get Love?

I see 3 scenarios...

1) Rondo is on his way out. Run with Smart/Bradley/Young as backup or sixth.

2) Bradley is going to get traded later on in the future.

3) Or the Celtics are contending, or making moves to pick up Love still, and Bradley is being re-signed to help the back court depth. Either way, I hope we're still trying to go after Love. I think Sully/KO, taking on Martin's contract/a few of our draft picks is still better than Gibson/Boozer or Klay/Lee.

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead.

It doesn't change a thing.  Bradley wasn't going to be signed and traded as part of a Love deal.

It changes a lot of things... If Rondo gets traded, Love ain't coming here. I'm not even talking about being signed or traded.. If we wanted Martin, we could've taken or sucked in his contract without Bradley...

But this definitely spells the possibility of Rondo being on his way out, or us contending. You don't just lock up a guard for 8 million without having a clear direction of where you wanna go.

[saltlover]

The re-signing of Bradley pretty much confirmed to me that the Love deal is dead. Build from within, I also think Tony Allen or what he accomplished in Memphis might have also been a influential part of the contract.

I like the signing, wish it could've been 1 million less, but 23 year old with All Defense, and scoring averages rising every year still means Bradley has plenty of upside left.

Not necessarily.

Couldn't the Bradley signing be used as a sign and trade in a deal to get Love?

No.  He cannot be traded until January 15th.

Ok. I thought because these free agent signings don't become official til July 10th that the Celts could then flip Bradley in a trade between now and then.

I edited my post while you were replying to provide more clarity, but while yes, the contract isn't official until July 10th, if it were a sign-and-trade, Bradley would have negotiated with Minnesota, not Boston.  Boston can't say "surprise, you're going to Minnesota!"  They could technically pull the deal off table if Minnesota wanted AB and AB refused to go there, but that would really ruin their credibility with a lot of agents and players around the league, and AB would sign an offer sheet elsewhere.  So essentially, no.

[GreenWarrior]

i'm not giving up on Love. but I do think the deal is probably dead, i'd be surprised if he gets dealt before the season. I think he definitely gets traded by the deadline though. only way the T wolves are relevant next season is if 1 or 2 western teams fall off the grid and have a bad season.

and that was the problem from the start we were dealing with an incompetent GM. our draft picks should have been their best option but because they have an incompetent GM he didn't view it that way because he's afraid of his ability to draft quality players. hence the reason they were looking for players in return. but even a novice would understand they weren't going to get a potential great player in return.

I totally believe by the trade deadline the T-wolves be mediocre again and they will have to realize they need to trade Love and I swear if they don't take pressey in return they're stupid. because that's about all they should expect and deserve for being a bunch of clowns.

[D.o.s.]

I, for one, am absolutely distraught. 

[Gainesville Celtic]

I don't believe Love is going to be traded until the deadline -- and I think that's MIN's right move. Disagree that holding him shows Saunders' incompetence.


Bradley + Young + Olynyk + a couple #1s + Bass' expiring + a min salary guy still works for Love + Kevin Martin

(I always assume if MIN trades Love they will (or SHOULD) insist another team take Martin's contract too).

I, for one, am absolutely distraught. 

Cheer up... on the small chance MIN gets jumpy/desperate between now and the 12th, something like this still works:

Love + Martin (KM via TPE)

for

Olynyk, Bass, Bogans, C. Johnson, two #1s and the rights to James Young (have not read of he or Smart actually signing their rookie deals yet...)

[manl_lui]

I personally still think there's a chance the Celtics can land Kevin Love. In my opinion the reason Rondo is still in Boston and hasn't been traded yet is because Kevin Love is still in Minny. If the Wolves trade love to a team other than the Celtics I think that's when you will see Rondo moved.

I don't think that is necessarily true, still need to find the right package in my opinion.

[SHAQATTACK]

Not crazy at all the Bradley deal.  Stevens must think he is necessary .

I would have offered 30 percent less .   Take it or leave it.

Just hate tying a lot of money in people that aren't going to win titles.

What do you do ?  Sigh