Kevin Love - Every team's best offer

[microfib4thewin]

CP3 opted in so he wouldn't become a FA immediately, otherwise, the Clippers wouldn't have offered Gordon.

It will be interesting to see how things develop with Love.

I actually never thought about that. What teams would Love be willing to opt in if he is really desperate to leave?

[Swish4]

This Love situation epitomizes how pathetic the NBA has become. I wouldn't really classify the NBA as a sport any more, it's much more like professional wrestling.

[AQuintus]

This Love situation epitomizes how pathetic the NBA has become. I wouldn't really classify the NBA as a sport any more, it's much more like professional wrestling.

It's not so much the NBA itself as it is the sports' media surrounding the NBA. The sports' media saw how much of a cash cow Lebron's "decision" was for them, so now they're trying to recreate it with every star coming to the end of their contract. After Love it will be Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Heck, even after Lebron left for the Heat and won multiple championships, we're still hearing chirps about him leaving the Heat and returning to Cleveland.

[cl2117]

Can someone explain to me why Love would re-sign with Boston? Boston certainly isn't a destination city and Love wants to win. Boston can't offer him that.

Apparently whether or not Love would resign with a depleted roster (deplete after they would have enough to make the deal...Rondo...Green?) is not relevant.

It has been explained numerous times how Boston would be able to compete in the East after a Love trade.

But just to reiterate:

1) This is the EAST we are talking about. Add Kevin Love to Rondo and co and they're already a playoff squad. Minnesota this year would be in the playoffs if they were in the Eastern Conference.

2) Even after putting up the requisite assets to acquire Love, Boston still has more than enough to wheel and deal with to add to their lineup and bench (9 first round picks in the next 5 years, 2 talented PF prospects that can be moved after acquiring Love, plus expirings and a big TPE). Asik is a very realistic target and a much better pairing than Pekovic was because of his defense, but there are other options out there: Sanders, Chandler, Okafor to name a few.

3) A lineup something along the lines of:
Asik
Love
Green
Bradley (or Martin)
Rondo

can probably compete for a top 4 seed in the East.

So yes Boston can offer the winning potential to Love, but more so than that they can offer him the opportunity to be part of an organization with a culture of winning (and I do realize the irony of that statement coming off of a lottery bound season). They have a great young coach locked up well into the future, one of the best GMs in the league, assets to add talent around him and it's not a destination city, but it's a basketball city.

[Baller2014]

This Love situation epitomizes how pathetic the NBA has become. I wouldn't really classify the NBA as a sport any more, it's much more like professional wrestling.

It's not so much the NBA itself as it is the sports' media surrounding the NBA. The sports' media saw how much of a cash cow Lebron's "decision" was for them, so now they're trying to recreate it with every star coming to the end of their contract. After Love it will be Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Heck, even after Lebron left for the Heat and won multiple championships, we're still hearing chirps about him leaving the Heat and returning to Cleveland.

People who say stuff like this don't really get how the NBA works. Yes, big markets have an advantage, but each new CBA has been progressively taking those advantages away. There's a reason 3/4 Conference finalists over the last 3 years have been from small markets (not that Miami is especially big). Kevin Love would have had to wait 9 years to leave the Wolves if Kahn had not signed him to a shorter contract. Most players are forced to wait between 7-9 years to leave a small market team (usually closer to 9 than 7). Durant is wholly unlikely to leave OKC and the tonne of talent he has over there, and Irving can't become an unrestricted FA until the summer of 2020 probably.

[AQuintus]

Durant is wholly unlikely to leave OKC and the tonne of talent he has over there, and Irving can't become an unrestricted FA until the summer of 2020 probably.

It doesn't matter. The sports' media has already started talking about both of them leaving. It's only going to get worse after the Love situation is resolved.

[Baller2014]

The media talked about Duncan leaving too. He didn't. Nor did Dirk. Nor do many others. So what?

[AQuintus]

The media talked about Duncan leaving too. He didn't. Nor did Dirk. Nor do many others. So what?

We don't know if Love will leave yet. We're all still talking about it like it's inevitable. Why? Because of the sports' media.

I'm not saying that Irving will leave or Durant. I'm not even saying that Love will definitely leave. What I'm saying is that OKC and Cavs fans have this same kind of annoying buzz and crappy trade threads to look forward to.

[DowJones]

Can someone explain to me why Love would re-sign with Boston? Boston certainly isn't a destination city and Love wants to win. Boston can't offer him that.

Apparently whether or not Love would resign with a depleted roster (deplete after they would have enough to make the deal...Rondo...Green?) is not relevant.

It has been explained numerous times how Boston would be able to compete in the East after a Love trade.

But just to reiterate:

1) This is the EAST we are talking about. Add Kevin Love to Rondo and co and they're already a playoff squad. Minnesota this year would be in the playoffs if they were in the Eastern Conference.

2) Even after putting up the requisite assets to acquire Love, Boston still has more than enough to wheel and deal with to add to their lineup and bench (9 first round picks in the next 5 years, 2 talented PF prospects that can be moved after acquiring Love, plus expirings and a big TPE). Asik is a very realistic target and a much better pairing than Pekovic was because of his defense, but there are other options out there: Sanders, Chandler, Okafor to name a few.

3) A lineup something along the lines of:
Asik
Love
Green
Bradley (or Martin)
Rondo

can probably compete for a top 4 seed in the East.

So yes Boston can offer the winning potential to Love, but more so than that they can offer him the opportunity to be part of an organization with a culture of winning (and I do realize the irony of that statement coming off of a lottery bound season). They have a great young coach locked up well into the future, one of the best GMs in the league, assets to add talent around him and it's not a destination city, but it's a basketball city.

I don't even know what culture of winning means. How does it help Boston in any tangible way? It sounds like one of those lazy sports phrases that people use that are literally meaningless in the real world.

I don't think Rondo and Asik are what Love has in mind when it comes to long-term success. That is a 2nd round team at best.

[Doormatt]

This Love situation epitomizes how pathetic the NBA has become. I wouldn't really classify the NBA as a sport any more, it's much more like professional wrestling.

the **** are you talking about? this happens in every sport that has free agency.

[Baller2014]

I don't think Love would win a title on Boston anytime soon, I think the Warriors are the best plausible fit in that sense, but I'm not convinced that's the sole motivation for his desire to move. He wants to make the playoffs every year, and be in a bigger market to pump his brand (and earning power) up. Boston certainly could manage to do that in the East, with a few solid moves they should be a firm 2nd round team for years to come, and therefore they are in this race.

[WenningtonGuy]

This Love situation epitomizes how pathetic the NBA has become. I wouldn't really classify the NBA as a sport any more, it's much more like professional wrestling.

the **** are you talking about? this happens in every sport that has free agency.

I was going to make a thread about this, but can't yet.

People love to find the dumbest ways to take shots at the NBA.

"Stars are always leaving via Free Agency!" Happens in every one of the big four. NHL example: The Wild signed Parise & Suter to big deals. Gretzky did it. MLB it happens every season. NFL not as much, but still happens a ton (Mike Wallace, Asomugha, Charles Woodson, etc.)

"You can just watch the last two minutes of the game." Um what? That is the same for every sport. There are tons of in-game collapses or back and forth games in every sport. This one always makes me chuckle.

"Tanking is a serious problem in the NBA." Teams tank in every league. I don't think it is a problem. It's a strategy. My favorite MLB club (Twins) have been doing it the past two seasons. They've acquired a ton of prospects and could be very good for a while in a year or two. Astros did the same thing. In the NHL, teams often trade their stars to acquire draft picks and also position themselves better. NFL, it is pretty common to rest some players it is a lost season.

[Higgs Boston]

I don't think Love would win a title on Boston anytime soon, I think the Warriors are the best plausible fit in that sense, but I'm not convinced that's the sole motivation for his desire to move. He wants to make the playoffs every year, and be in a bigger market to pump his brand (and earning power) up. Boston certainly could manage to do that in the East, with a few solid moves they should be a firm 2nd round team for years to come, and therefore they are in this race.

2 round? if Love going to Celtics, they will not be contender in the next year, only PO, but in 1-2 years yes, they are contender. Remember that are the boston celtics, not are knicks, bobcats, minnesota, cleveland or another comical franchise.

[DowJones]

I don't think Love would win a title on Boston anytime soon, I think the Warriors are the best plausible fit in that sense, but I'm not convinced that's the sole motivation for his desire to move. He wants to make the playoffs every year, and be in a bigger market to pump his brand (and earning power) up. Boston certainly could manage to do that in the East, with a few solid moves they should be a firm 2nd round team for years to come, and therefore they are in this race.

2 round? if Love going to Celtics, they will not be contender in the next year, only PO, but in 1-2 years yes, they are contender. Remember that are the boston celtics, not are bobcats, knicks, minnesota, cleveland or another comic franchise.

LoL...in what world do you live in? Just saying "we are Boston Strong!!!!" isn't going to convince anyone. Saying you are Boston means absolutely nothing. You have to put a team together and a Rondo-Love combo won't go very far, even in the East...especially not with young teams like Washington, Cleveland, and Detroit coming up and Chicago/Miami/Indiana already there.

[Baller2014]

Saying "we're the Celtics/Lakers, therefore we will always be good" seems naïve and silly. Where was the Boston contender before 2008? they spent years as a mediocre Eastern playoff team (and worse). The Lakers are stuck in a similar (possibly worse) mess at the moment. I think the Celtics will be a good team if they get Love, and make some solid moves to round out the roster, but let's not go crazy with this contender stuff.

4 seasons ago your "comic franchise" of Cleveland was the best regular season team in the NBA for the 2nd year running. 3 years ago fans like you were calling the Clippers, Grizz and Warriors the basket case franchises of the NBA, who would never go anywhere. How did that work out?

[Doormatt]

Saying "we're the Celtics/Lakers, therefore we will always be good" seems naïve and silly. Where was the Boston contender before 2008? they spent years as a mediocre Eastern playoff team (and worse). The Lakers are stuck in a similar (possibly worse) mess at the moment. I think the Celtics will be a good team if they get Love, and make some solid moves to round out the roster, but let's not go crazy with this contender stuff.

4 seasons ago your "comic franchise" of Cleveland was the best regular season team in the NBA for the 2nd year running. 3 years ago fans like you were calling the Clippers, Grizz and Warriors the basket case franchises of the NBA, who would never go anywhere. How did that work out?

how are the lakers in a worse situation? we will have essentially unlimited capspace in a year along with a lotto pick this year. and we already have the premier free agent hinting that LA is his #1 destination.

as far as non-contending teams, i would say the lakers are in one of the best situations.

lakers will always be good because worst case scenario they are still THE destination city in the NBA and they have the history to back it up, unlike the knicks who for some reason think everyone wants to go there but end up with nothing and win nothing.

unlike the celtics a majority of the lakers winning isnt based on one dynasty in the 50s. the lakers consistently put out great teams unlike any other franchise in the league.

[Baller2014]

how are the lakers in a worse situation? we will have essentially unlimited capspace in a year along with a lotto pick this year. and we already have the premier free agent hinting that LA is his #1 destination.

as far as non-contending teams, i would say the lakers are in one of the best situations.

lakers will always be good because worst case scenario they are still THE destination city in the NBA and they have the history to back it up, unlike the knicks who for some reason think everyone wants to go there but end up with nothing and win nothing.

unlike the celtics a majority of the lakers winning isnt based on one dynasty in the 50s. the lakers consistently put out great teams unlike any other franchise in the league.

Ask the Spurs what cap space got them in 2003. Or the Bulls in 2000. Or the Mavs the last 2 years. Or [insert almost every example of cap space here]? Cap space very rarely pans out, it can get you solid/good players, but it almost never manages to steal big name stars, especially not when your team was one of the worst in the NBA the year before, and got bumped in the first round the year before that. An aging Kobe isn't really looking too attractive to play with, and there is not a lot on the roster to appeal. Plenty of more attractive teams have cap space in the next few years (the Mavs this year, the Rockets and Spurs the year after, the Bulls this year if they want, etc, etc).

Who is this premier Free Agent? The guy whose people are putting out rumours of how he is flexible, and who openly poured cold water on the Laker rumours?

The Lakers have a big advantage because of their market, but times are changing. The CBA's since 99 have been progressively making it harder for teams to succeed on their market alone, as LA is discovering. The same Laker fans who think the Lakers are an imminent contender are probably the same fans who thought LA would make the playoffs before this season. Sometimes teams just go through losing for a bit, especially out West.

[Higgs Boston]

I don't think Love would win a title on Boston anytime soon, I think the Warriors are the best plausible fit in that sense, but I'm not convinced that's the sole motivation for his desire to move. He wants to make the playoffs every year, and be in a bigger market to pump his brand (and earning power) up. Boston certainly could manage to do that in the East, with a few solid moves they should be a firm 2nd round team for years to come, and therefore they are in this race.

2 round? if Love going to Celtics, they will not be contender in the next year, only PO, but in 1-2 years yes, they are contender. Remember that are the boston celtics, not are bobcats, knicks, minnesota, cleveland or another comic franchise.

LoL...in what world do you live in? Just saying "we are Boston Strong!!!!" isn't going to convince anyone. Saying you are Boston means absolutely nothing. You have to put a team together and a Rondo-Love combo won't go very far, even in the East...especially not with young teams like Washington, Cleveland, and Detroit coming up and Chicago/Miami/Indiana already there.

You do not understand. I'm not saying it's only Celtics. I'm saying this

With Rondo-Love, Celtics have two young All-Star, they can attract a 1-2 important players in 2015 or 2016, I'm not saying just being the celtics.
Celtics and other serious franchise have shown that leverage their opportunities and are ambitious in their objectives. For example Memphis have a great project in the last years, but they never taken a step forward, even they have traded a major player like rudy gay. Or same thing OKC with harden
Celtics, miami, chicago, lakers, spurs, houston, GSW or suns, are reliable franchise, Love and others All-stars can be sure of being contender if they stay in those franchises.

[DowJones]

Saying "we're the Celtics/Lakers, therefore we will always be good" seems naïve and silly. Where was the Boston contender before 2008? they spent years as a mediocre Eastern playoff team (and worse). The Lakers are stuck in a similar (possibly worse) mess at the moment. I think the Celtics will be a good team if they get Love, and make some solid moves to round out the roster, but let's not go crazy with this contender stuff.

4 seasons ago your "comic franchise" of Cleveland was the best regular season team in the NBA for the 2nd year running. 3 years ago fans like you were calling the Clippers, Grizz and Warriors the basket case franchises of the NBA, who would never go anywhere. How did that work out?

how are the lakers in a worse situation? we will have essentially unlimited capspace in a year along with a lotto pick this year. and we already have the premier free agent hinting that LA is his #1 destination.

as far as non-contending teams, i would say the lakers are in one of the best situations.

lakers will always be good because worst case scenario they are still THE destination city in the NBA and they have the history to back it up, unlike the knicks who for some reason think everyone wants to go there but end up with nothing and win nothing.

unlike the celtics a majority of the lakers winning isnt based on one dynasty in the 50s. the lakers consistently put out great teams unlike any other franchise in the league.

You still need to get the right guys though. You can't just say "we are LA" because if that was so important then LeBron James would be wearing Purple and Gold to make everything right come July.

I agree with you that being in LA makes it easier. You know what sucks for me as a Cleveland fan? Right now the Cavaliers can make 1 or 2 simple moves and get far enough under the salary cap to have enough money to bring in both LeBron and Carmelo on close to max-contracts. Cleveland would then team those 2 up with Kyrie Irving and the #1 pick in this draft. How sick is that? Cleveland would be hailed as brilliant. Well, if we are in NY or LA then I can just about guarantee that it happens. Since we are Cleveland, there really isn't a chance.

With that being said, LA still needs to set things up. We will see if your franchise can do that but just having cap-space to sign Love and a second star doesn't guarantee you anything. LA has lived a VERY charmed life. You got the benefit of having Shaq in his prime while Kobe somehow got himself to LA and then Phil came to coach. You can't just expect that to happen again.

[Doormatt]

how are the lakers in a worse situation? we will have essentially unlimited capspace in a year along with a lotto pick this year. and we already have the premier free agent hinting that LA is his #1 destination.

as far as non-contending teams, i would say the lakers are in one of the best situations.

lakers will always be good because worst case scenario they are still THE destination city in the NBA and they have the history to back it up, unlike the knicks who for some reason think everyone wants to go there but end up with nothing and win nothing.

unlike the celtics a majority of the lakers winning isnt based on one dynasty in the 50s. the lakers consistently put out great teams unlike any other franchise in the league.

Ask the Spurs what cap space got them in 2003. Or the Bulls in 2000. Or the Mavs the last 2 years. Or [insert almost every example of cap space here]? Cap space very rarely pans out, it can get you solid/good players, but it almost never manages to steal big name stars, especially not when your team was one of the worst in the NBA the year before, and got bumped in the first round the year before that. An aging Kobe isn't really looking too attractive to play with, and there is not a lot on the roster to appeal. Plenty of more attractive teams have cap space in the next few years (the Mavs this year, the Rockets and Spurs the year after, the Bulls this year if they want, etc, etc).

Who is this premier Free Agent? The guy whose people are putting out rumours of how he is flexible, and who openly poured cold water on the Laker rumours?

The Lakers have a big advantage because of their market, but times are changing. The CBA's since 99 have been progressively making it harder for teams to succeed on their market alone, as LA is discovering. The same Laker fans who think the Lakers are an imminent contender are probably the same fans who thought LA would make the playoffs before this season. Sometimes teams just go through losing for a bit, especially out West.

your post makes little sense. which laker fans thought we were going to make the palyoffs or be imminent contenders? no one thought any of that after dwight left.

and none of those teams are the lakers as far as FA destinations goes, so again, dont know what youre talking about. regardless even if it wasnt the lakers, the fact that other teams missed out on FA targets doesnt mean anything. and also having cap space doesnt mean anything if there are no free agents youre interested in, in general its rare for big names to make it to UFA, so teams usually dont do anything with cap space because its not worth it. for the lakers its a blank slate.

and the lakers will not be pitching kevin love on an old kobe, hes done with his career. the pitch will be whoever our lotto pick is + cap space for someone else + him. the idea is to pitch to kevin love that we will build a contender around him in LA, not come play with a 40 year old kobe. and unlike dwight, love would be interested to play in LA.

and i dunno what to tell you if you dont think Love is interested in coming to LA, its plain as day. maybe it happens, maybe it doesnt, but obviously the interest exists. of course hes not going to respond to the rumors, hes not as stupid as carmelo to come out and say that hes leaving for only 1-2 destinations.