Kevin Love Free Agency/Trade Thread

[mondry]

Saw this on Twitter from @mdotbrown. Apparently Britt Robson likes it, too. It makes my heart cry to talk about trading Love, but I think if you do, the return needs to be assets, not draft picks. This is the trade:

Love to OKC

Ibaka + Lamb to MIN

I would walk in expecting two 2nd rounders, and be try to be sure to walk out with at least one. I would probably do this straight up, though. The fuxxin thing is, it works. Find us on twitter or run it yourself. The money works.

And it's real assets and a legit starting PF.

I said it before I'd be fine with this trade, look at OKC tonight getting blown out without Ibaka as their 3rd scoring option and elite rim protector. They got killed in the paint tonight again without him. Ibaka is better than people think (well, from what I've seen anyway) and I think if he played next to rubio and pek it'd be downright nasty.

Lamb is a good young player with upside as well. All in all it makes a lot of sense and a good fit. Upgrade the bench a bunch (which lamb does by sending Martin to the 6th man role) and it's not like it'd be a team that much worse than one with love offensively. I think as long as we have Rubio to distribute and elevate pek, ibaka, lamb, and brewer we'd be fine.

Basically I want as many 2 way players as we can find and down the road when Dieng matures more maybe we shop pek and Dieng + Ibaka would be really scary for guys like Tony Parker haha.

[robbie84]

Just curious, wouldn't you rather have Thompson? And wouldn't Cleveland rather move him so they aren't minute logged at the 4 with him Love and Bennet?

Waiters has 2 more years on his rookie (cheap) contract, Thompson has 1
If i was MIN after acquiring Waiters and Wiggins i would go for Martin + Budinger -> Monroe (S&T)

Great idea. You should try posting that on the trade board and see what kind of feed back you get.

Sorry but OKC doesn't want Love, they'd rather keep Ibaka.
He's cheaper, he protects the rim and guards all the bigs in the West.
They have enough scoring in Durant and Westbrook.
Pointless trade and ain't no way OKC is going into luxury tax for Love if they wouldn't for Harden.

[robbie84]

Guys does Love sign an extension in Philly or Cleveland?
Why would he when the pick is gone?
It's still a shambles and Deng is gone.

Philly are great and young but it's Noël and Carter Williams and...?
Without picks those teams are barrel scrapers.

[letsgosuns]

Okay Wolves fans, I have a question for you. In Arizona, one of the writers of the main paper here mentioned a trade offer of Goran Dragic for Kevin Love. The Suns also have the 14th, 18th, and 27th pick in this years draft, as well as a second round pick. The Suns also have their own 2015 first round draft pick, own the Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected) from the Steve Nash trade, and also the Timberwolves 2015 first round pick (top 12 protected). Channing Frye also has a player option for next season. It is unknown if he is going to opt in. I am going to assume for purposes of this discussion that he does opt in.

Here is the first trade offer:
Goran Dragic
Channing Frye
14th pick in this year's draft
The Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected)

Another Scenario is this. The Kings have said that they are interested in acquiring a veteran and are willing to trade the 8th pick to do it. Let's hypothetically say the Suns trade Frye and the 14th pick to the Kings for the 8th pick in this years draft. The new trade offer is this:

Goran Dragic
8th pick in this years draft
The Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected)

As a Suns fan, I would absolutely hate to lose Goran Dragic. I love him. Even if the Wolves agreed to one of these offers, I am still incredibly hesitant to do it. However, I would consider trading him under these circumstances. I am curious to see what Wolves fans think of these offers.

[minimus]

Here is the first trade offer:
Goran Dragic
Channing Frye
14th pick in this year's draft
The Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected)

I'd do this, because I like Dragic-Rubio combo. But as guys have mentioned I'm affraid that Love won't resign with PHO.

P.S. Also I'd change your offer to

Dragic+Frye+Morris+#14 for Love+Budinger

[letsgosuns]

Here is the first trade offer:
Goran Dragic
Channing Frye
14th pick in this year's draft
The Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected)

I'd do this, because I like Dragic-Rubio combo. But as guys have mentioned I'm affraid that Love won't resign with PHO.

P.S. Also I'd change your offer to

Dragic+Frye+Morris+#14 for Love+Budinger

Hmm I am not sure what other fans have said, but I personally believe that Love would re-sign with Phoenix. Also, I really think that the Morris brothers are a package duo. They play so much better together. And if the Suns did that trade and added the Morris brothers with Dragic and Frye plus that 2014 first round pick, I think there is no way the Wolves get a better offer than that. Dragic should have been an all star and is probably going to be named to one of the All NBA teams, and Markieff Morris nearly won sixth man of the year. That is a lot of high quality assets for the Suns to give up. You add those four guys to the Wolves right now with Rubio and Pekovic plus the Wolves drafting two guys in the lottery, that team might be even better than the current team with Love. I honestly do not think the Suns would be willing give all that up but they might. Who knows.

[minimus]

Here is the first trade offer:
Goran Dragic
Channing Frye
14th pick in this year's draft
The Lakers 2015 first round pick (top five protected)

I'd do this, because I like Dragic-Rubio combo. But as guys have mentioned I'm affraid that Love won't resign with PHO.

P.S. Also I'd change your offer to

Dragic+Frye+Morris+#14 for Love+Budinger

Hmm I am not sure what other fans have said, but I personally believe that Love would re-sign with Phoenix. Also, I really think that the Morris brothers are a package duo. They play so much better together. And if the Suns did that trade and added the Morris brothers with Dragic and Frye plus that 2014 first round pick, I think there is no way the Wolves get a better offer than that. Dragic should have been an all star and is probably going to be named to one of the All NBA teams, and Markieff Morris nearly won sixth man of the year. That is a lot of high quality assets for the Suns to give up. You add those four guys to the Wolves right now with Rubio and Pekovic plus the Wolves drafting two guys in the lottery, that team might be even better than the current team with Love. I honestly do not think the Suns would be willing give all that up but they might. Who knows.

Well, Morris, Frye have expiring contract. So basically we get Dragic (who's been playing at All star level and has good contract) + #14. It's good offer, but hardly the best. If CLE offer #1 pick in package with Varejao+TT+Waiters I'd put CLE offer at #1 priority.

[letsgosuns]

I'd do this, because I like Dragic-Rubio combo. But as guys have mentioned I'm affraid that Love won't resign with PHO.

P.S. Also I'd change your offer to

Dragic+Frye+Morris+#14 for Love+Budinger

Hmm I am not sure what other fans have said, but I personally believe that Love would re-sign with Phoenix. Also, I really think that the Morris brothers are a package duo. They play so much better together. And if the Suns did that trade and added the Morris brothers with Dragic and Frye plus that 2014 first round pick, I think there is no way the Wolves get a better offer than that. Dragic should have been an all star and is probably going to be named to one of the All NBA teams, and Markieff Morris nearly won sixth man of the year. That is a lot of high quality assets for the Suns to give up. You add those four guys to the Wolves right now with Rubio and Pekovic plus the Wolves drafting two guys in the lottery, that team might be even better than the current team with Love. I honestly do not think the Suns would be willing give all that up but they might. Who knows.

Well, Morris, Frye have expiring contract. So basically we get Dragic (who's been playing at All star level and has good contract) + #14. It's good offer, but hardly the best. If CLE offer #1 pick in package with Varejao+TT+Waiters I'd put CLE offer at #1 priority.

The Morris brothers are going to be restricted free agents, so they cannot leave unless you do not want to pay them. Assuming they play well, I would imagine the Wolves would want to keep them. So the offer really is Dragic, the Morris brothers, and the 14th pick. Plus, Frye might work out a contract extension to stay anyway.

Also, yeah, if you can get the number one pick for Kevin Love, of course you have to take that. I just do not see it happening because I highly doubt Love would want to resign with the Cavaliers. So the Cavaliers risk trading the number one pick for a player that will leave in one year. I also cannot believe some people think that Lebron might go back to Cleveland. He has made three finals in a row, won two championships, and is three wins away from his fourth straight finals appearance. Why would he leave a situation like that to go back to the place where he could never win? Makes no sense to me. With that being said, I think there is a better chance of Kyrie Irving leaving the Cavaliers than them getting Lebron back. So therefore, I cannot envision Love wanting to go to the Cavaliers, thus making the Cavaliers resistant to trading the number one pick for him.

[chrisab123]

Celtics fan here. I came up with a solution on how the Celtics and Wolves can make a trade and the Wolves can still be pretty competitive.

Celtics trade #6 Kelly Olynyk 2015 clippers pick and 2018 Celtics pick.

Wolves trade Kevin Love

Olynyk fits the Wolves model more than someone like Sullinger. He's a stretch 4 and again is just a better overall fit.

Draft Night: #6 Wolves take Saric #13 Wolves take McDermott. Saric might stay overseas for a year but when he comes over he will be the real deal. McDermott gives the Wolves instant offense. Might have to start him out of position though at the 3.

Free Agency: Wolves should sign someone to fill the gaping hole at the 2. Someone who can adds instant offense someone like Jimmer Ferdette would do the trick.

Trades: Wolves send Barea for Kyle Korver

Lineup on opening night

C- Pek
PF-Olynyk
SF-McDermott
SG-Ferdette
PG-Rubio

[Merc_Porto]

Celtics fan here. I came up with a solution on how the Celtics and Wolves can make a trade and the Wolves can still be pretty competitive.

Celtics trade #6 Kelly Olynyk 2015 clippers pick and 2018 Celtics pick.

Wolves trade Kevin Love

Olynyk fits the Wolves model more than someone like Sullinger. He's a stretch 4 and again is just a better overall fit.

Draft Night: #6 Wolves take Saric #13 Wolves take McDermott. Saric might stay overseas for a year but when he comes over he will be the real deal. McDermott gives the Wolves instant offense. Might have to start him out of position though at the 3.

Free Agency: Wolves should sign someone to fill the gaping hole at the 2. Someone who can adds instant offense someone like Jimmer Ferdette would do the trick.

Trades: Wolves send Barea for Kyle Korver

Lineup on opening night

C- Pek
PF-Olynyk
SF-McDermott
SG-Ferdette
PG-Rubio

Wow, i´m sorry but that is awful.

[wildvikeswolves]

^ At least the all white starting lineup is intact

I remember Flip liking Olynyk last year, so I could see a deal with him and the 6th pick as centerpieces of the deal

[The Rondo Show]

Wow, i´m sorry but that is awful.

It's like the goal was to find as many white players as possible and hope all the white players in the world combine to replace Kevin Love.

That would be the single worst defensive team in NBA history. Only part missing from the off-season is hiring Mike D'Antoni to be the coach.

[chrisab123]

Wow, i´m sorry but that is awful.

It's like the goal was to find as many white players as possible and hope all the white players in the world combine to replace Kevin Love.

That would be the single worst defensive team in NBA history. Only part missing from the off-season is hiring Mike D'Antoni to be the coach.

I was going to put Scal as the coach

[Sothron]

Wow, i´m sorry but that is awful.

It's like the goal was to find as many white players as possible and hope all the white players in the world combine to replace Kevin Love.

That would be the single worst defensive team in NBA history. Only part missing from the off-season is hiring Mike D'Antoni to be the coach.

You need David Lee at PF to make it the all time worse defense. Also a white guy so he would fit the all white team.

[Grits n Gravy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/status/469468673108115456[/tweet]

[BullsFTW]

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

Philly & Cleveland would be crazy to trade their Top 3 Picks. They are in line to have a franchise player on a reasonable contract for the next three years. That's huge!

[karch34]

If Dragic and picks are part of the offer from Phoenix, I think that's the best offer. I know media has speculated about Dragic being available in a Love trade, but not sure. I think Love would resign as they have a good young team and would have cap left to make a run at another player. Also better coach and management then Cleveland.

For Wolves they can play Dragic at SG with Rubio and they get the clutch perimeter player they need.

Not getting the Olynik love. Has some talent, but he doesn't excite me at all.

Starting to like Bulls trade better as Gibson and Butler are huge defensive upgrades and solid two way players.

[Feilong]

Philly & Cleveland would be crazy to trade their Top 3 Picks. They are in line to have a franchise player on a reasonable contract for the next three years. That's huge!

That's not necessary true. Let's take a common NBA stats for player evaluation. PER
Love is 3rd in NBA by this stat, only behind Durant and L.James.
If the question is
- will Wiggins, Embiid, Parker become a good NBA player? Absolutely
- will they become an all-star someday soon? Probably
- will they become a franchise player someday soon? Maybe
- will they be 3rd in PER someday soon? Probably not
- will they be 3rd in PER next season? Absolutely not.

CLE wants to be in playoffs next season. Does it make sense to go for Love? Absolutely. They know what they get from Love and they don't have to wait for the development of the rookie. If you add that CLE doesn't know how to develop players (Thomson, Waiters, Bennett, Irving) which are more or less the same as they were in college or maybe even worse then it is a no-brainer to go after Love.
For PHI it make sense to keep their pick because they are in no hurry.

[wildvikeswolves]

My new order of preference is:

1. Cleveland (1 + Waiters + filler)
2. Philadelphia (3 + 10 + Young + filler)
3. Golden State (Thompson + Barnes + Lee)
4. Boston (6 + Sullinger + Future pick + Filler)
5. Chicago (Mirotic + Taj + Butler + Pick)

Philly & Cleveland would be crazy to trade their Top 3 Picks. They are in line to have a franchise player on a reasonable contract for the next three years. That's huge!

Hardly a sure thing to be a franchise player. Kevin Love is a top 5 player in the NBA. Highly unlikely anyone from this draft comes close to as good as him.

I think Love can be happy playing with Kyrie and in the East. Even if its not LeBron, I am sure they could easily lure another big player to play with them.

[BullsFTW]

If I was Cleveland I'd keep the #1 Pick (preferably Wiggins). Don't spend my money this Summer, save up and go after the 2015 FA class.