I don't see the Lakers giving up 3 unprotected picks for Love... when they have a fighting chance to wait a year and get him for "free" in free agency...
I agree completely - they are even money to get him for free if he leaves
Super Hypothetical Rebuild
Re: Super Hypothetical Rebuild
papalrep wrote:I don't see the Lakers giving up 3 unprotected picks for Love... when they have a fighting chance to wait a year and get him for "free" in free agency...
I agree completely - they are even money to get him for free if he leaves
Lakers won't be the only team interested in Love and able to sign him after next season. And Love can't count on the Lakers waiting. Importantly, Love would need to be traded to get the 5th year on his next contract. That will be worth at least $17 million. Love won't give that 5th year up. He'll insist on a trade and the Lakers know they'll need to trade for Love to get him. The wold also want to have him next season to avoid replicating this season's embarrassment.
Bottom line is that the Lakers would likely do a deal like the one Cam has suggested. The question is whether the Wolves are ready to give up on Love for the uncertainty of future lottery picks and another rebuild.
Re: Super Hypothetical Rebuild
Lip, Love can't get the fifth year in a S&T. The new CBA in its infinite wisdom put the kibosh on that as well. S&T are only for four years and only get the 4.5% increase, which means there is no benefit to Love to do a S&T unless the team he is going to doesn't have the cap space.
Re: Super Hypothetical Rebuild
sjm34 wrote:Lip, Love can't get the fifth year in a S&T. The new CBA in its infinite wisdom put the kibosh on that as well. S&T are only for four years and only get the 4.5% increase, which means there is no benefit to Love to do a S&T unless the team he is going to doesn't have the cap space.
SJM -- I wasn't aware of that change. Ridiculous. But I don't think a deal for Love would have to be a S&T. The Lakers would deal for him under his existing contract. Then I think the Lakers could give him the 5th year re-signing him next summer if Love opts out or the year after that if Love doesn't opt out. The key is that the Lakers would be the only team that could give Love the 5th year after his current contract ends. In addition, the Lakers would have Bird rights to Love for salary cap purposes. So I think a deal along the lines Cam suggested would work for all parties and would be very realistic. I'd rather hold onto Love, but if Flip knows or suspects that Love will be inclined to leave next summer, then he should do a deal like Cam's this summer.