lipoli390 wrote:The smart thing to do is take calls and make it clear to each suitor what they need to give in exchange for Love. Therefore, what Flip says publicly is beside the point. Flip's not going to fool any NBA front office execs with what he says publicly because, if he's actually talking to them seriously about trading Love as he should be, they already know he's willing to trade him and they know the price he's demanding. Flip's comments about keeping Love mean one of the following two things:
1. Meaningless public posturing that, if anything, makes Flip look like an amateur but has no impact on what ultimately happens; or
2. An honest statement of his intent to keep Love at least until the Feb deadline, hoping for the sort of success Portland had this past season, which could potentially be enough to persuade Love to re-sign next summer.
I hope it is the former, but I fear it's the latter.
I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I don't have much confidence in Flip as a front office exec. He's a career jock/coach surrounded by the likes of Rob Babcock and Flip's guy from the Wizards. None of these three has any track record of success heading up an NBA basketball organization or any other multi-million dollar organization. Not an inspiring collection of executives.
On the other hand, flip hasn't done anything yet to demonstrate that he's clueless and he is a seasoned NBA basketball mind. So I'm hoping he has a clear plan and that he is pursuing that plan intelligently and diligently. This summer will tell us whether Flip is a dunderhead as I suspect or a savvy basketball exec as I hope. Please be a savvy exec, Flip!!!
Honestly I don't think other teams are in a rush right now to give up the farm for Love at this point. You got reports of the cavs thinking they can get Love without giving up the first pick. The Warriors refusing to give up Klay ect. If thats the case, keep love
mrhockey89 wrote:Camden, I think the opposite would be true..if Love falls in love with Boston, then he's going to be less likely to accept a trade to the Cavs. I think Love's got a birdie in his ear, but it's one from Rondo or Ainge. On the bright side, I do think it would entice the Celtics more to give up more assets in order to make it happen, while it doesn't really affect the Wolves needing or not needing to trade Kevin.
Ok seriously is a team with Love, Rondo and literally nothing else makes the Celtics a winner? they won 25 games last year
Alex, I think you're forgetting a couple things... Boston would likely still have Sullinger or Olynyk if they traded for Love, they're also in the East, in a big market, Rondo is already an All-Star and surely in his ear. Additionally, Love has stated that he likes that city, and that their coach is a great coach (and he's called their coach a great coach within the past couple days). Clearly he's making it known he'd be happy with being traded there. And again, the Celtics are in the East...a league in which you don't even need 40 wins to make the playoffs.
I think Love is romanticizing the options of where he could be traded to.
Well I would think or hope that we would get Sullinger back. They play the same position and Wolves have to take back salary anyway. Yea Rondo was an All-Star, but he still hasn't shown to fully be back from surgery yet. Yes they are in the east, but even then, they were 13 games out of the 8th spot. They have a long ways to go
I made the same point earlier in this thread, alex. If Love's goal is to play for a contender, Boston seems like a peculiar choice, because their roster is not strong. But cam suggested that if management committed to him that they would bring in one more piece to build a Miami-like super team, that would interest Love. Also, he has said before how much he likes the history and mystique of Celtic basketball.
Whatever the reason is, Love's trip to Boston tells me he is attracted to playing there.
Whats this magic piece that Bos could bring in? Also maybe Love is really just taking a vacation. It's the off season and he is a millionaire.
to the other point, leverage might of been a bad word.Let's just say Love comes out and says he wants to stay in Minny. So he sticks with the wolves and probably opts out because he isn't stupid. He'd be called a liar for doing that. Then, if he signs anywhere else then the wolves, then he looks like an asshole. Why put something out in the media that;s obviously going to broken down and distorted by every media outlet in the country?
Alex, Carmelo could be that piece... or LeBron...for instance. Melo is trying to recruit to NY but that's unlikely to work, and Melo wants badly to win a title...much easier to convince a guy like him or LeBron if you already have two relatively young All-Star players and are waiting for the last of the Big 3 to join you. LeBron will go anywhere he feels can add the most to his legacy, which means championships.
I just got back from Boston myself and I could see him going to that city with their massive sports passionate fan base and falling in love with it. It's a very unique and cool city for someone that's in their 20s/30s
I was talking to a friend and fellow Wolves fan tonight about the Love situation. He thinks Flip isn't sure what he wants to do. My reply was that I hope he's wrong. Any good exec in Flip's position should already have his mind made up to either keep or trade Love this summer.
First of all, Flip should know what factors are driving Love's decision, including Love's residual disdain for Taylor who was complicit in the decision to refuse Love the 5th year. Second, Flip should have a clear sense of whether the team can improve enough to persuade Love to stay after next season given any other factors driving Love's decision. Finally, Flip should have a clear idea of what type of return he wants for Love and a list of realistic trades that would yield the type of return he's looking for.
If Flip sees a high probability of sufficient improvement to persuade Love to stay in light of other factors, then he should have already decided to keep Love. If not, then Flip should be having serious talks with multiple teams in an effort to bid up the price for Love and he should pull the trigger on the offer that matches or exceeds the best package on his list of scenarios. The best leaders are decisive and control their own organization's destiny.
mrhockey89 wrote:Camden, I think the opposite would be true..if Love falls in love with Boston, then he's going to be less likely to accept a trade to the Cavs. I think Love's got a birdie in his ear, but it's one from Rondo or Ainge. On the bright side, I do think it would entice the Celtics more to give up more assets in order to make it happen, while it doesn't really affect the Wolves needing or not needing to trade Kevin.
Ok seriously is a team with Love, Rondo and literally nothing else makes the Celtics a winner? they won 25 games last year
Alex, I think you're forgetting a couple things... Boston would likely still have Sullinger or Olynyk if they traded for Love, they're also in the East, in a big market, Rondo is already an All-Star and surely in his ear. Additionally, Love has stated that he likes that city, and that their coach is a great coach (and he's called their coach a great coach within the past couple days). Clearly he's making it known he'd be happy with being traded there. And again, the Celtics are in the East...a league in which you don't even need 40 wins to make the playoffs.
I think Love is romanticizing the options of where he could be traded to.
Well I would think or hope that we would get Sullinger back. They play the same position and Wolves have to take back salary anyway. Yea Rondo was an All-Star, but he still hasn't shown to fully be back from surgery yet. Yes they are in the east, but even then, they were 13 games out of the 8th spot. They have a long ways to go
I made the same point earlier in this thread, alex. If Love's goal is to play for a contender, Boston seems like a peculiar choice, because their roster is not strong. But cam suggested that if management committed to him that they would bring in one more piece to build a Miami-like super team, that would interest Love. Also, he has said before how much he likes the history and mystique of Celtic basketball.
Whatever the reason is, Love's trip to Boston tells me he is attracted to playing there.
Whats this magic piece that Bos could bring in? Also maybe Love is really just taking a vacation. It's the off season and he is a millionaire.
to the other point, leverage might of been a bad word.Let's just say Love comes out and says he wants to stay in Minny. So he sticks with the wolves and probably opts out because he isn't stupid. He'd be called a liar for doing that. Then, if he signs anywhere else then the wolves, then he looks like an asshole. Why put something out in the media that;s obviously going to broken down and distorted by every media outlet in the country?
Alex, Carmelo could be that piece... or LeBron...for instance. Melo is trying to recruit to NY but that's unlikely to work, and Melo wants badly to win a title...much easier to convince a guy like him or LeBron if you already have two relatively young All-Star players and are waiting for the last of the Big 3 to join you. LeBron will go anywhere he feels can add the most to his legacy, which means championships.
I just got back from Boston myself and I could see him going to that city with their massive sports passionate fan base and falling in love with it. It's a very unique and cool city for someone that's in their 20s/30s
Ha Lebron nor Melo are not going to Boston. Let's be serious. Love isn't that stupid nor should anybody in believe that scenario ever happening
Alex, why do you say that neither LeBron nor Melo would go to Boston? Melo won't likely be winning a title with the Knicks, so that leaves him looking for another team....there aren't many teams that Melo would be able to go to and have that hope.. I think he'd consider the Rockets if they cleared the room, and possibly the Lakers if they could convince him Kobe will be full strength and Pau was still there, but that's questionable. Who else would be pulling his strings? Boston is a big sports market and if you've got Rondo and Love and Olynyk, then they could potentially convince one of the two of them to come to their big market to make a new Big 3...because that's what it seems to take right now...or at least what attracts the biggest names.
mrhockey89 wrote:Alex, why do you say that neither LeBron nor Melo would go to Boston? Melo won't likely be winning a title with the Knicks, so that leaves him looking for another team....there aren't many teams that Melo would be able to go to and have that hope.. I think he'd consider the Rockets if they cleared the room, and possibly the Lakers if they could convince him Kobe will be full strength and Pau was still there, but that's questionable. Who else would be pulling his strings? Boston is a big sports market and if you've got Rondo and Love and Olynyk, then they could potentially convince one of the two of them to come to their big market to make a new Big 3...because that's what it seems to take right now...or at least what attracts the biggest names.
Melo won't be joining the Heat most likely and LeBron may or may not stay with the Heat.. He has to weigh whether he thinks Wade's body can hold up. Wade's breaking down more and more each year as has taken a beating throughout his NBA career. LeBron will likely stay if he thinks Wade can continue to play at a high level, or leave if he thinks Wade won't hold up. For LeBron, he wants to get to Jordan level, and that means championships, and he'll go where he needs to to make that happen.
I strongly disagree with you Lip. There is no way that Flip can commit one way or the other at this point. He is going to be open to trading Love, but he is making it known that if you don't bring your best offer to the table, then his is fine trying to build the team one more time to convince Love to stay. If he makes up his mind that he is trading Love now, then it is going to come off in negotiations as Love being as good as gone and drive down the price. The only thing that is going to drive up Love's value is the threat that we will keep him if you don't bring your best offer to the table and to teams like Cleveland and GS, who either won't have the money or market to get him in the offseason, that gives us the leverage to actually get the best deal possible if they truly want him. The second you start negotiating like Love is out the door, the number 1 picks and Klay Thompson's of the world get taken off the table because they know you are just trying to dump him at that point for the best deal on the table. Keeping him or trading him are both viable options at this point, so there is no point in committing to one or the other already. The goal in these scenarios is to have more options, not less, so why commit to one option and kill the other before you have to? Flexibility is normally praised on this board and you are demanding Flip not be flexible in his dealings with the Love situation.
mrhockey89 wrote:Melo won't be joining the Heat most likely and LeBron may or may not stay with the Heat.. He has to weigh whether he thinks Wade's body can hold up. Wade's breaking down more and more each year as has taken a beating throughout his NBA career. LeBron will likely stay if he thinks Wade can continue to play at a high level, or leave if he thinks Wade won't hold up. For LeBron, he wants to get to Jordan level, and that means championships, and he'll go where he needs to to make that happen.
The heat just made 4 straight finals. People will be looking to join up with the heat rather then the other way around. 0% chance Lebron leaves the heat.
lipoli390 wrote:The smart thing to do is take calls and make it clear to each suitor what they need to give in exchange for Love. Therefore, what Flip says publicly is beside the point. Flip's not going to fool any NBA front office execs with what he says publicly because, if he's actually talking to them seriously about trading Love as he should be, they already know he's willing to trade him and they know the price he's demanding. Flip's comments about keeping Love mean one of the following two things:
1. Meaningless public posturing that, if anything, makes Flip look like an amateur but has no impact on what ultimately happens; or
2. An honest statement of his intent to keep Love at least until the Feb deadline, hoping for the sort of success Portland had this past season, which could potentially be enough to persuade Love to re-sign next summer.
I hope it is the former, but I fear it's the latter.
I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I don't have much confidence in Flip as a front office exec. He's a career jock/coach surrounded by the likes of Rob Babcock and Flip's guy from the Wizards. None of these three has any track record of success heading up an NBA basketball organization or any other multi-million dollar organization. Not an inspiring collection of executives.
On the other hand, flip hasn't done anything yet to demonstrate that he's clueless and he is a seasoned NBA basketball mind. So I'm hoping he has a clear plan and that he is pursuing that plan intelligently and diligently. This summer will tell us whether Flip is a dunderhead as I suspect or a savvy basketball exec as I hope. Please be a savvy exec, Flip!!!
Honestly I don't think other teams are in a rush right now to give up the farm for Love at this point. You got reports of the cavs thinking they can get Love without giving up the first pick. The Warriors refusing to give up Klay ect. If thats the case, keep love
Not in a rush because we're a little under a month away from the draft. Things will heat up as the draft gets closer.
Really think the Warriors would decline the chance to pair Love and Curry because of Thompson? Please. Don't kid yourself. That's a no brainer for Golden State. You do what it takes to get the star player.
Also, I haven't seen these reports saying the Cavs think they can get Love without the No. 1 pick being involved. I've seen beat writers suggest that the Cavs wouldn't want to include it. Uhh, no shit they wouldn't. They're going to try to offer Waiters/Bennett/Thompson in hopes that we bite. That's textbook. Reality is that they'll get Love if they offer the No. 1 pick in a package. Remember right after the lottery, their GM said they'd be open to anything in regards of that pick. Doesn't necessarily give off the feel that it's untouchable, especially in Love trade talks.
