Who needs Love

[Scott K]

Bring it! If this is true, Flip better be putting the trade stamp on the paper right now. With a strong draft this year, if we can have 3 first round picks, along with more in the future, I say getter done!

Quote:

The Celtics reportedly hope to acquire Kevin Love with a package of picks Nos. 6 and 17 in this year's draft, future No. 1 draft picks, and young talent such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk.

Boston has a war-chest of draft picks they could use to pry Love out of Minnesota, but they're not the only team piling up assets at Flip Saunders' feet in the hopes of acquiring the Wolves' three-time All-Star. ESPN's Chad Ford feels that the Celtics' offer "is probably the best [saunders] is going to get," but we shouldn't have to wait long for resolution with the draft coming on Thursday, June 26.

[Getanet]

If this were the NFL I would agree, but even in a supposedly deep draft the NBA is ruled by the top few picks. You get past Wiggins, Embid and Parker and it's a total krudshoot who will become a good NBA player. Boston's #17 does nothing to get me excited. The #6 would be OK but not too get me anxious for the season to start.

If we have to lose KL the only way I would be excited about the upcoming season is if we could land Parker or Wiggins. No idea how to get that done, but the T-Wolves need a potential star to get some interest back in the franchise.

[toughguy]

+1 If this offer is real they better pull the trigger

[Scott K]

Quote:

Updating a previous report, the Celtics' offer for Kevin Love "isn't nearly the best the Timberwolves have received ... or expect to receive," according to Boston Herald writer Steve Bulpett.

The Nuggets and Warriors have both made more appealing offers for Love, according to Bulpett's report. The Celtics' offer is built around draft picks, with only players like Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk included, and Boston appears unwilling to include "the qualify of player with NBA experience that Minnesota is seeking or believes it can get elsewhere." With eight days left until the draft on June 26, we should continue to see an escalation in team's offers for Love.

[fishersofmen]

The Spurs proved you don't need mega stars to be very good in the NBA. Their big 3 were at one point but not any longer except maybe a healthy Parker. We need to copy what they have done over there. Get guys who can shoot the ball from everywhere on the floor, pass well, and play some defense. Unfortunately Ricky can only do 1 of those things at this point.

[maros91]

Ricky can defend and pass IMO. Love can only shoot. His defense is god awful. Kind of glad to see him go. Every time he missed a shot he would whine to the officials and not run back on D.

[toughguy]

He's a pretty good rebounder too.

[Scott K]

He's a pretty good rebounder too.

Only because he plays for the rebound, rather then trying to contest the shot.

[mrklean]

The wolves need to say here is the deadline X we want your best offer no talk best offer and whoever has the best offer on that date we will trade him there.

[Scott K]

I believe that deadline is June 26th, at about 6pm.

[Sandmannd]

The offer from the Warriors sounds pretty dang good.

[ozzie]

what is the latest warriors offer? Klay Thompson is intrigueing but he don't want to be here so how long before we lose him? I would also make sure Harrison Barnes is included with GS. I am not a fan of the celtics offer with 6 & 17 and next years 1st...top 3 pick is needed

[Sandmannd]

Report is they took Thompson off the table. Without him, it's a bad trade.

[Scott K]

Maybe Love can use his powers and get Lebron to sign for the wolves, and Love can make a playoff team, rather then go to one.

OK, I know that wont happen.

Really quiet on the Love trades. It doesnt sound promising to be able to dump him off, and get a Kings ransom. Unless of course, we actually trade him to the Kings

[Hawg]

The eternal Minnesota dilemma in all sports except women's basketball it seems, why do we have owners in all sports that dump a bunch of money into one player and never open their wallet again for a supporting cast? Mauer, Peterson, and Love just don't have a future here if they want to ever win.

[mrklean]

If anyone can screw up the Love trade its the Wolves

[Sandmannd]

Both the Vikings and Wolves have dumped money. Vikes haven't had a QB since Favre. Wolves gave Peck a heck of a pay day. I'm just tired of whinny players making millions upon millions.

[dfv87]

MN brought this on themselves with Love, they had a chance to give him max money/years deal and they did not think he was a franchise player. Now he is telling the wolves I will leave at the end of my contract rather than pull a Lebron and drag the Cavs along until "the Decision" and they get nothing...

Say what you want about KL, he plays hard and is a top player in the NBA... and there is no way we will get equal compensation for him in a trade. Unless we draft a lightning in a bottle player like a Paul George type(mid 1st round stud).

Funny how all of MN turns on KL when he is actually being honest with the team that told him he is not a franchise player, then him leaving should not be a big deal... I disagree but he at least is being honest in this deal.

[ozzie]

yeah but the money issue can be made up by giving him the max when his contract renews. so if they would have given him the max money all the sudden he would want to stay here? If they would have given him the max all that would have done is kept a disgruntled employee on the team longer!! If he don't want to be here give him the boot and let's reload and give it another go. With Shabbaz, Deng, Pek, Rubio Turiaf and the some new pieces I still feel we have a competitive team with Flip running the show.

[Scott K]

What I find interesting is, all the headlines now are talking about team players. Wade, Bosh restructuring their contracts to better the team, taking huge pay cuts. LeBron possibly as well. Other team stars helping recruit other players to the team(Rose. Dirk, many others), holding off on signing their own contracts, so the team can sign better FA, to just take a pay cut them selves(Dirk).

Then there is Love, no one likes him, because he whines to much. No big names want to play along side of him, because he isnt a team player, and he needs the plays to go through him, in order to be successful. All he cares about is the money.

Trade his arse to the highest bidder, and lets build a team with team players.

[Getanet]

Every headline I've read recently is that Lebron is telling teams he wants a max contract. Which makes sense, if anyone in the league should be getting a max contract it's him. Wade's play doesn't justify a huge contract anymore. Bosh's numbers don't really equate to it either.

I think MN's inability to land free agents has a lot more to do with a combination of:

1) A consistently terrible team that never makes the playoffs

2) Zero faith in ownership/management's vision or ability to construct a decent team

3) Limited salary flexibility to offer free agents. Which is ridiculous. How are we paying so much for a crummy team?

4) MN's reputation for having brutally cold winters

5) The Twin Cities not being an exciting place to live if you're young, rich and famous.

Love may be a jerk, but from my perspective at least he is being upfront with the front office and telling them he won't be here long term so get what you can for him. That's much better than how Dwight Howard handled his situation in Orlando.

[Scott K]

Quote:

A radio host for ESPN Cleveland reported on Wednesday that the Cavaliers "have a deal in place" for Kevin Love, but the report has not been verified.

Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio has since reported that the Cavs may be "pursuing" Love, but we're waiting for more sources to report on a trade before buying into it. The Cavs do have enough assets to offer a compelling package if they go that direction, with No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins as the primary draw, but they'd be unlikely to pull the trigger with LeBron James still in play. It shouldn't take long for this report to either be debunked or confirmed, so stay tuned.

[mrklean]

Well Lebron is heading back so this should be dead don't see how they could have the cap space

[PierBridge]

What?

Love joining lj in cleveland next.

[CaptainMusky]

Doesn't NBA have luxury tax which allows teams to exceed cap? Besides any trades have to balance out money wise. So if they have money for lebron now that shouldn't change if love goes there.