15th overall wrote:Slax wrote:BfB wrote:
because talks have progressed to the point where Love needs to sign off on it
It sounds like you are talking about Love signing off on a
trade, in which case there has been a misunderstanding. I strongly believe that the purpose of Love's visit is that the Timberwolves and Celtics are very close to agreeing on a trade Love is now checking out Boston because the Timberwolves let him know so he can decide whether or not he would sign off on such a trade trade. Some posters have brought up the alternate (I believe highly improbable) possibility that Love has come to Boston to discuss
free agency plans for 2015. My contention is that the Timberwolves would not allow their prize trade asset to talk to the Celtics about his
future free agency plans while he is still under contract and that the Celtics and Love talking about 2015 free agency without the Timberwolves' permission would put the Celtics at risk of being punished for tampering. Therefore, I hope they are discussing a trade and not free agency because I don't want the Celtics to be punished.
If Love was here with the Wolves blessing, it's because they're hoping he'll decide to opt in or sign an extension.. that way they can squeeze a little more out of the Celtics.
If Minny had no say in this trip, it likely means Love's just flirting with us as he can see hooking up with us down the way.
Both scenarios bode well for us, just one moreso.
I think it's the latter, but it would still be in a trade this summer. Flip didn't sound too happy, lol. But if Love is on board with it, we can seriously start putting the screws to Minny here. Because we have the ability to get to max cap room next summer, while still fielding a promising supporting cast, Love can threaten them with signing with us as a FA next summer. Can still get his $20m a year while joining a team that had Rondo, Sullinger, Bradley, Olynyk, the 6 and 17 picks, all of the 2015 picks, both 2016 picks, the 2017 pick swap and both 2018 picks. Would just need to give Green away and perhaps stretch Wallace.
Love can further threaten to kill any and all trades during his last year in Minny, just as stars like Chris Paul and Melo have done in recent years. This would effectively kill the market for him. If those teams are being told by him of his intention to sign with Boston in 2015, there's no way they risk giving up a Klay Thompson or the #1 in the draft this year.
Delays us by a year, but Minny would have to take that threat very, very seriously if it meant they were turning down an offer based around #6, Sully, cap relief and an extra couple of picks in favor of either potentially losing him for nothing, or at best taking a completely weak offer from another team that has been told by Love not to deal for him.
If Love is willing to essentially collude with us, this is extraordinary leverage to employ on Minny. Similar to what Melo did to the Nuggets with the Knicks, but given that Melo needed to force a trade to NY before the new CBA kicked in to get his max extension, it's even worse for Minny.
In sum, with Love's help, we could (a) destroy the trade market for him, and (b) force Minny to take 60 cents on the dollar, as opposed to the 40 cents another team would offer, or the 0 cents they would get if he just walks away in free agency next summer.
Is all of that realistic? You tell me. His agent, who also represents Pierce and who knows Ainge very well, just helped to arrange a weekend-long dog-and-pony show around Boston, where Love visited with current Celtics and other assorted Boston athletes.
I'd say Flip Saunders has a right to be pissed off right about now, LMAO.
