Predict Love's team for 2014-15

[mrhockey89]

Where will Kevin Love be playing in 2014-15? I'm posting a poll as I don't think there's an obvious favorite here at this point. But I would like replies as well (after voting) and indicate what you think the trade will include (major pieces at least).

I've left off teams like the Lakers, Kings, and Knicks who have virtually no chance of landing him (based on assets) not interesting the Wolves.

[mrhockey89]

Total shot in the dark pick for me as I'll say the Warriors.

It'll end up being the Warriors Lee+Klay Thompson+Harrison Barnes for Love+Warriors 2nd round pick returned to them.

But one team that would make for an interesting darkhorse would be the Utah Jazz. They have a good young core with Burke/Hayward/Favors/Kanter and have the #5 pick in the draft. Likely? Probably not, but he'd be closer to home as well. Favors+#5 overall for Love?

[kekgeek]

I went with the Wolves, I just don't think we pull the trigger on a trade before draft night, he might get traded durning the season, which wouldn't maximize his value. If I had to pick if he does get traded it would be the Celtics, I think they have the best assets to offer.

[mjs34]

Rumors say Cleveland is open to moving the #1 for a player. What better player could they expect than Love.

[Phenom]

I think Flip will pick Chicago. Defense, veterans, and picks that are valuable to him.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

Went with Cleveland. I honestly think unless they are in love with Embiid (and Embiid's health checks out...a question mark still at this point), they will offer the pick for Love. I just don't see them adding a young player that may or may not become a star when they can take the sure thing in Love. It's the old "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" philosophy.

If the #1 pick is in play, I think at the end of the day that trumps all deals because of potential.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

What do I hope? Cleveland, with them offering #1, Waiters and filler.

What do I think? Flip doesn't get any offers any near Love's value, and Love plays here next year.

After that happens, what do I hope? Wolves improve greatly, make it to the second round of the playoffs, and Love decides to stay.

What do I think will happen? Love probably leaves in free agency, takes less money from a potential winner, and ends up unhappy because his numbers decline and he isn't "the man".

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Voted Cleveland for a number of reasons. I've been adamant about the No. 1 pick being available and Dan Gilbert's want to win now. I think Love is open to playing in Cleveland with Kyrie and potentially with LeBron if he returned. How many top picks are the Cavs going to cash-in before they get a star? Thompson, Waiters, Bennett. None have panned out the way they'd hoped, though Waiters has All-Star talent and showed it post-All Star break last year. Flip knows this is a superstar league and that No. 1 pick gives us the best shot at one, hopefully Jabari Parker.

There's also the chance that this deal with Cleveland could turn into a three team trade giving us a franchise player AND a win now player. I posted this on a different thread, but this may be the best possible realistic (maybe with some tweeks) result. Something in the ballpark of...

CLE: Love (MIN)

PHI: No. 1 (CLE), Gee (CLE), Barea (MIN)

MIN: No. 3 (PHI), Young (PHI), Waiters (CLE), Thompson (CLE)

PG: Rubio/MLE
SG: Waiters/Martin
SF: Parker/Brewer
PF: Young/Thompson
C: Pekovic/Dieng

23 and younger: Rubio, Waiters, Parker (No. 3), Thompson, Dieng, Muhammad, No. 13.

Still feel like this team could compete for the playoffs while having a good future.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't see how Love is here next year.

[Lipoli390]

Hard to get inside Flip's head and I can tell you that he runs a tight ship so I haven't gotten any insights from inside the organization. But I'm going to trust that Flip is thoughtful and smart and I'm also going to assume that he doesn't want to initiate a major rebuild. Based on those assumptions here's my take:

1. I see Golden State as Love's most likely destination for this upcoming season. Why? Because it seems to be the best fit for both teams given where each team is at. Golden State is a mid-level playoff team looking to make the jump into the top tier with the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers. To do that, I suspect they believe they need to make a significant trade because they have no first round picks and no cap room. Kevin Love probably the best PF in the game. He's also a unique player who is both a prolific rebounder and an excellent three-point shooter. He's also an experienced veteran but still very young, which means he'd instantly lift the team and continue to develop along side Curry. Kevin is definitely a player who could conceivably take the Warriors up another notch. He would also fit well defensively in a front line with a big, shot-blocking defensive-minded center in Bogut and an excellent defender at the SF position in Iggy. Meanwhile, Love and Curry would make an awesome pick-and-roll combo. So what's in it for the Wolves. Kay Thompson is arguably the best starting-caliber 3-point shooter in the NBA, which would make him a superb fit next to Ricky. He's still young and could continue to grow and develop next to Ricky. David Lee would still ensure very good rebounding at the PF position. His high-caliber scoring ability along with his quickness and ability to run the floor would also be terrific complements to Ricky's game. Barnes (or more likely Draymond Green) would be another athletic SF with more size and athleticism than Brewer who would fit really well offensively with Ricky.

2. I'd put the Wolves as the second most likely team that Love plays for this upcoming season. I base this on what I consider Flip's preference to keep Love absent a really good return in a trade. I sense that Flip's high level of confidence in his own coaching ability leads him to believe he can get the team to play so well that Love will want to re-sign here.

3. The only other team I see Love playing for would be the Celtics. However, I don't think the Celtics could give Flip the return he's looking for. I can possibly see Flip dealing Love for some package that inclues the #6 pick and Olynyk as the centerpieces (perhaps with Green and the Nets picks thrown in). But I don't think Flip is particularly excited about who would be available at #6 and, although we've all read that Flip like Olynyk in last year's draft, I sense that this just wouldn't be enough to pry Love lose.

As for Cleveland, I think Flip would deal Love for the #1 pick and other assets (e.g., Waiters), but I don't think Cleveland would give up the top pick. Just a hunch, but that's my feeling right now unless I hear something different. Cleveland will likely take Parker at #1, which is exactly the guy I think Flip would take if he could persuade Cleveland to do the Love deal.