Thinking out loud - Does Love want out? If so, trade him?

[Krapinsky]

With reports from Ford and elsewhere that Love wouldn't mind being traded, unfortunately I think there may be something to it.

Lots to support this:

1) Kahn is his GM
2) Rambis is his coach (currently) - has had tension w/ him in the past
3) Team has always sucked
4) Team is laughing stock of all sports media
5) Love is from West Coast (may desire warmer climate)
6) Team is made up of knuckleheads (Darko, Randolph, Beasley)
7) Love love's the spotlight (may desire bigger market)
8) If he's traded now, will not be hamstrung by RFA status being in MN (i.e. could make the same amount of money playing elsewhere)
9) Team has not supported him in the past -- for example, Rambis/Kahn rarely ever said anything positive about Love, all the while singing Darko's praises
10) Fan attendance is poor
11) Statements from KG and Jefferson that they were happy to move on -- KG once said he wished he would have left Sota sooner and Al compared us to a pinto or someother crappy car.

If you ask me, that makes for a pretty strong case that Love would not mind being traded and very well could be unhappy or at the very least frustrated with the T-Wolves
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Now, if all the above makes you think, hmm.... maybe he does want out? Should we consider trading him for a 2 or a 5 since we are in position to draft a very promising PF in Derrick Williams (save the SF debate for another thread please) and another on the roster in Anthony Randolph?

[TheProdigy]

Love/Pekovic for Bogut/10?

Draft Williams at 2 and Burks at 10.

Bogut/Darko
Williams/Randolph
Beasley/Webster
Johnson/Burks
Rubio/Ridnour/Flynn

[Esohny]

Shrug. He might want out, and I doubt he would be upset if he were traded to a good team, particularly in a glamor market.

But do the Wolves get value for him? As you said, they need a 2 and a 5, but who are they getting?

They won't get Gordon, the Clippers have Griffin. I doubt OKC upsets their chemistry and trades Harden. Memphis would probably rather keep Gasol than play Love with Randolph. Etc, etc.

[Steve_Holiday]

if they willingly trade him (more likely, he demands a trade), they'll never get value for him, and we'll be even worse than we were (aka, the worst team in the league). if the nba is truly a league where a borderline all-star has that much leverage over a franchise, then we all should be done watching the Wolves.

[Esohny]

if they willingly trade him (more likely, he demands a trade), they'll never get value for him, and we'll be even worse than we were (aka, the worst team in the league). if the nba is truly a league where a borderline all-star has that much leverage over a franchise, then we all should be done watching the Wolves.

Some would argue that we should have reached that point long ago.

[TheProdigy]

if they willingly trade him (more likely, he demands a trade), they'll never get value for him, and we'll be even worse than we were (aka, the worst team in the league). if the nba is truly a league where a borderline all-star has that much leverage over a franchise, then we all should be done watching the Wolves.

I accepted this after Marbury was traded. Hopefully the next CBA will have some disincentives for players holding teams hostage.

[Esohny]

Mmm. There might be a 3-way trade with the Clippers and Denver there, but I still doubt that the Clippers would let Gordon go.

[PeeDee]

This is just Wolves fan pessimism and coast media bias. Love has been positive about the team regardless of the wins. He backs up his teammates and says we are going to turn the corner at any time. The comments he gives are not just canned cliches either.

Kahn has told me and other season ticket holders to our faces that Love will be signed to a multi-year extension as soon as they can do it.

[Dewey]

... should we just fold it up?

Love wants out? ... since this is all based strictly on opinion and assumptions, it's hard to understand where this is suppose to go. If I'm GM (be glad I'm not) and my best player who's making millions wanted to be traded, I would hold a news conference and confirm he wants out and we want him out ... then, I would be sure the trade is so one sided and to a team that he does not want.

The owners can see the inmates are starting to run the assylum ... the owners are the only ones who can stop it.

[Kumar]

If Love is gone - this leaves the Wolves with these players as potential leaders of the team:

Michael Beasley

....

That is all.

Not good.

[TheProdigy]

If Love is gone - this leaves the Wolves with these players as potential leaders of the team:

Michael Beasley

....

That is all.

Not good.

Is Love currently the leader of the team?

[karch34]

Now, if all the above makes you think, hmm.... maybe he does want out? Should we consider trading him for a 2 or a 5 since we are in position to draft a very promising PF in Derrick Williams (save the SF debate for another thread please) and another on the roster in Anthony Randolph?

Even if it doesn't make you think he wants out; Williams, Randolph, and needs you could fill at two other positions, makes it something to consider. I think DaKidKG has a scenario worth considering. I'd be more hesitant if proven piece we bring in was a C, than SG, but not saying I wouldn't.

[Kumar]

If Love is gone - this leaves the Wolves with these players as potential leaders of the team:

Michael Beasley

....

That is all.

Not good.

Is Love currently the leader of the team?

If he isn't, I don't know who is and I'm rooting for the wrong team.

[Esohny]

If Love is gone - this leaves the Wolves with these players as potential leaders of the team:

Michael Beasley

....

That is all.

Not good.

Is Love currently the leader of the team?

If he isn't, I don't know who is and I'm rooting for the wrong team.

It seems like Love has some things to work on in that regard.

[eyeteeth]

I've said it before. The only possible trade for Kevin Love involves another roughly under-25 year old All Star coming back to the Wolves.

That's Westbrook, Griffin, Durant, Rondo, Horford or Rose.

Probably not happening. Or if it does, the Wolves are getting ripped off, so it shouldn't be happening.

[jade_hippo]

If Love is gone - this leaves the Wolves with these players as potential leaders of the team:

Michael Beasley

....

That is all.

Not good.

Is Love currently the leader of the team?

If he isn't, I don't know who is and I'm rooting for the wrong team.

I think we were all spoiled by having KG for so long, now we miss Brian Cardinal and Mark Madsen.

[Kumar]

So there are no leaders on the team...hmm?

How promising.

[TheProdigy]

So there are no leaders on the team...hmm?

How promising.

KLove is only 22 years old. That's too young to be a true leader. Young guys have more respect for the older players with experience, even if they are mediocre players. When KG was 22, he wasn't the true leader of the team, that would have been Sam Mitchell or Malik Sealy.

[lewdog]

1) Kahn is his GM
2) Rambis is his coach (currently) - has had tension w/ him in the past
3) Team has always sucked
4) Team is laughing stock of all sports media
5) Love is from West Coast (may desire warmer climate)
6) Team is made up of knuckleheads (Darko, Randolph, Beasley)
7) Love love's the spotlight (may desire bigger market)
8) If he's traded now, will not be hamstrung by RFA status being in MN (i.e. could make the same amount of money playing elsewhere)
9) Team has not supported him in the past -- for example, Rambis/Kahn rarely ever said anything positive about Love, all the while singing Darko's praises
10) Fan attendance is poor
11) Statements from KG and Jefferson that they were happy to move on -- KG once said he wished he would have left Sota sooner and Al compared us to a pinto or someother crappy car.

12. Taylor's the owner

This is a heck of a seriously depressing thread. Thanks a lot Krap.

[Kumar]

Wow, you're actually really serious about it...