Kevin Love Free Agency/Trade Thread

[C.lupus]

Uggh, that would be such a Timberwolves thing to do.

[BullsFTW]

Late to the party, but would Boozer + Mirotic + 16th & 19th Picks entice the Wolves? Assuming Mirotic is willing to come over and play with Rubio & Pekovic.

[NBAexec]

I think the Cavaliers have the best offer, if they are willing. They have a few packages they can offer:

Tristan Thompson
Anthony Bennett
Dion Waiters
2014 lottery pick
2015 Memphis pick

or

Dion Waiters
Tristan Thompson
Anderson Varejao
2014 lottery

or for the ultimate fleecing (Wolves would need to throw in filler with Love)

Waiters
Varejao
Thompson
Bennett
Zeller
2014 lottery pick
2015 Memphis pick

Any combination of that is pretty strong. Its quite a lot to give up for a player that you aren't sure would re-sign. But it is an offer full of good young players with a lot of potential. Basically the perfect package for a rebuild, yet still good enough to be starting caliber quality. Varejao wouldn't even be necessary in the last scenario unless Wolves wanted him to play or as a trade chip. Varjeao is still a good player, along with being an expiring contract that is non-guanteed if they wanted to cut him. Waiters is a stud who could become a star and has a lot of potential. Thompson is a hustler and hard worker with potential as well, starting quality PF that is young and will only get better. Bennett has struggled up to this point, but he might have the most potential of them all and I think would play great given a chance in the right circumstance. I still believe he will be the best player in that draft when its all said and done, which might not be saying much, but he could spread the floor and have that Kevin Love-like quality for the team. Not to mention the strong draft picks.

The only thing that I personally think could trump this offer is if a team with a top 3 pick is willing to trade that for Love. Not sure how likely that is, but Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid would be nice. Even then, the Cavs offer is competitive if it includes Dion because Dion is proven and might turn out better than any of them. The jury is still out for me on Embiid and Wiggins for different reasons, but that isn't here or there. Not impressed with what Bulls have, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are their best assets? Jimmy Butler at his maximum potential is about like Jr Smith to me. Celtics assets aren't terrible, but they don't have anything that special. Only way they are serious is if they get a top 3 pick and are willing to trade it. Warriors aren't too bad of an offer, but I think Dion is much better than Klay (if Warriors would give up Klay). Plus Warriors don't have good draft picks and I think David Lee sucks. Suns could be a good offer, but they have to be willing to give up about all 4 of their picks plus 2 or 3 of their young players to top the Cavs offer. Even then, the Suns don't have a top 3 pick or pick better than the Cavs this year.

[AQuintus]

I think the Cavaliers have the best offer, if they are willing. They have a few packages they can offer:

1) The Boston offer is still better.
2) Any offer that includes Bennett is worse than the same offer without Bennett.

[AQuintus]

Late to the party, but would Boozer + Mirotic + 16th & 19th Picks entice the Wolves? Assuming Mirotic is willing to come over and play with Rubio & Pekovic.

Sure, but not nearly as much as some other offers.

[theGreatRC]

I fully believe that if we make the right moves this off-season and become a playoff team, Love will re-sign

[Howard Cosell]

Although I believe the Boston trade of Bass (exp) + Bogan (Non guaranteed) +Sullinger + 2014 5th pick overall + 2016 1st Round Pick (BKN) is the frontrunner....I'm wondering if Flip sees Dieng as a solution to the 4 spot? And if that is the case I wonder how it could change the equation so to speak in any potential trade? Dieng can defend the 4, the guy is mobile enough.



Just a thought.

[Krapinsky]

I fully believe that if we make the right moves this off-season and become a playoff team, Love will re-sign

It only takes a broken hand to Love, a sprained knee to Rubio or a case of bursitis to flare up and then we're back in the lottery. Too much risk for my blood. If he's actually already saying he doesn't expect to resign with us, then we have to move him. Have to.

[Grits n Gravy]

Although I believe the Boston trade of Bass (exp) + Bogan (Non guaranteed) +Sullinger + 2014 5th pick overall + 2016 1st Round Pick (BKN) is the frontrunner....I'm wondering if Flip sees Dieng as a solution to the 4 spot? And if that is the case I wonder how it could change the equation so to speak in any potential trade? Dieng can defend the 4, the guy is mobile enough.



Just a thought.

I was thinking this as well. There are teams that basically play two centers together like Washington with Nene and Gortat or San Antonio with Splitter and Duncan or the Asik and Howard lineup in Houston. Dieng is a great min range shooter and high post player/passer and pretty agile and quick footed so I think he does give us that option even if it is only for shortish looks in the rotation.

[NBAexec]

I think the Cavaliers have the best offer, if they are willing. They have a few packages they can offer:

1) The Boston offer is still better.
2) Any offer that includes Bennett is worse than the same offer without Bennett.

Okay, if you personally don't have faith in Bennett, that is fine but he will become a solid player. Now what makes the Boston offer better? Unless they get a pick in the top 3 and are willing to trade it. So you are saying the Boston offer is better because of the 5th pick I presume. Well you won't get a better player than Dion at the 5th pick, AND you get the 9th pick from the Cavs to top it off, which the 9th pick could be just as good as the 5th pick. Plus all of the other young talent Cavs have to offer. I don't see how the Boston offer is better. Enlighten me.

[Saltine]

Late to the party, but would Boozer + Mirotic + 16th & 19th Picks entice the Wolves? Assuming Mirotic is willing to come over and play with Rubio & Pekovic.

Boozer??? his $16.8 million contract is a bit of a negative.
If the deal doesn't have Taj Gibson and Mirotic in it, i can't imagine Flip being interested. You guys are going to have to amnesty Boozer.

[Calinks]

I know one thing. I sure as hell don't want to go through another several years of rebuilding. I'll be 40 by the time we get a decent team here.

[ChokeFasncists]

Harden for Love.

Maybe Harden for Love + some protected future 1st round pick

Thoughts?

Then the Rockets would have a logjam in the front court and need an SG back. I'm thinking something like:

Asik + cash to Atl
Shabazz + Hummel + Shved + Minny pick + cash to Atl
Millsap to Min
Harden to Min
Love and KMart to Hou
DMC to Hou

[zauchary]

Question from an outsider looking in:

Most T'Wolves fans seem to agree that a Love-Pekovic front court just doesn't really work, right? If Love were with a defensive C, it would be great, or if Pekovic were with a defensive PF, it would be great, but together, it just isn't really that conducive to winning, am I correct?

So then why would getting Jared Sullinger back in a trade with Boston be attractive to you guys? I understand wanting their top 6 pick, but I feel like Sullinger is just as bad a fit with Pekovic as Love while being far less talented.

As an outsider looking in, I feel like I'd rather try to pry Barnes and Thompson from Golden State, Butler, Mirotic, Gibson, and 1st round picks from Chicago, or Len and a bunch of 1st round picks from Phoenix if I were a Wolves fan.

I've been thinking the Thompson and Barnes combo would be the best option. Love really did the team a disservice by coming out publicly. This directly effects the ability to get a quality coach and best case scenario assets. You have to get rid of him, because you can't risk not getting any return on investment. If they could pick up Thompson and Barnes and grab better fit with Pek in the frontcourt, that could possibly be a playoff team.

Personally I dream of a sign and trade for Anthony Davis, but we know that ain't happening.

[AQuintus]

I've been thinking the Thompson and Barnes combo would be the best option.

For what? Becoming a treadmill team?

Love really did the team a disservice by coming out publicly.

He didn't. The only thing that's changed compared to a month ago is that Flip has started listening to offers.

Edit:

If they could pick up Thompson and Barnes and grab better fit with Pek in the frontcourt, that could possibly be a playoff team.

1) How are they going to get a better fit? And who would it be?
2) You're massively overrating Thompson (sub-15 PER every year of his career) and Barnes (sub-10 PER every year of his career).

[andyhop]

Well you won't get a better player than Dion at the 5th pick,

This must be the worst draft of all time in that case.

[AQuintus]

that is fine but he will become a solid player.

Well you won't get a better player than Dion at the 5th pick,

Two very definitive statements about things you can't possibly know. But as long as we're making definitive statements: "Well you won't get a better player than Alexey Shved at the 9th pick." So you might as well give us the 9th pick for Alexey Shved.

Enlighten me.

The reason you don't see it is because you're a Cavs Homer. Enlightened?

Edit:

Sorry, that wasn't very fair.

1) 5 >>> 9. After about the 6th or 7th pick, this draft falls off hard.

2) Sullinger > Thompson. Both are no more than backup PFs, but Sullinger is paid less over the next few years.

3) Future pick from Brooklyn (possibly) > Nothing

4) Expirings >>> Non-expirings

5) Taking back our "bad salary" >>> Not taking back our bad salary

6) Nothing >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bennett. He's a horrible player getting paid number 1 overall money for the next few years.

7) 2015 Memphis pick = irrelevant. A late teens, early 20s pick a year from now has very little value.

8) Varejao = bad fit. There's no room for him in the rotation with Pek and Dieng already here. He's paid a ton, is too old for a rebuilding roster, and is constantly injured

9) Dion Waiter. The deal really, really hinges on how highly we think of Waiters. If we think he's a future star, it's a solid deal. If, however, you don't, it's a bad deal. I don't. 2 years of sub-15 PER. 2 years of unacceptably bad TS% (.492 and .508). Below average assists and rebounds per-36. Low FTA/FGA. Bad defense. Low WS/48. The guy is just a mediocre 6th man type at best. Not worth it.

Edit 2:

And even with Waiters post-break "surge" in production, he still only had a terrible 1.17 points per FGA (1.09 pre-break) and was still well below average at passing and rebounding.

[dakomish23]

NYK fan here. Would this trade be considered a good package?

Adams / Jackson / 22nd & 29th pick this yr / 2016 pick / Perkins expiring

Young prospects with upside. Check
Expiring. Check
Multiple 1st rd Draft picks. Check.

Just think that's the best move for you guys unless CHI is giving you Mirotic / Gibson and multiple picks

[DusterBuster]

Late to the party, but would Boozer + Mirotic + 16th & 19th Picks entice the Wolves? Assuming Mirotic is willing to come over and play with Rubio & Pekovic.

On behalf of Blazer fans, I can tell you Wolves fans that we feel your pain. Get ready to have Bulls fans trying to pawn off this crappy package for Love all.... summer.... long. That's what they did all last summer with Aldridge and it looks like they're picking up right where they left off.

[AQuintus]

No. If we're trading him to OKC, I want Ibaka coming back.

Also:

Multiple 1st rd Draft picks. Check.

We don't want multiple 1st rd Draft picks. We want at least one good (read: high, read: top 7) draft pick.

Picks in the 20s would honestly make me less willing to do a trade, since they're guaranteed money for guys that are more than likely not going to be worth it.

Also, we already have Pek and Dieng. Another C does nothing for us. Jackson is more valuable to us since we need a backup PG and he can play some SG, but a backup (which both Adams and Jackson would be) isn't going to get you an All-NBA player.