Keep or trade Love poll

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I didn't vote yet, because I want to know if the rules explanation that cool provided is what you intended, misty. Does option 1 really mean to trade Love for the best offer, regardless of its quality? If so, then Cam's vote actually belongs in option 2.


Those of you who voted for option 1 (other than cam): If the best offer turns out to be Sullinger and Philly's lottery-protected 2015 pick, are you really saying you would make that deal? I think that's insanity.

I'm actually almost exactly where cam is. I'm ready to trade Love for either the Boston deal or the Cleveland deal he outlines, and I would add to that a GS deal replacing one of the players in there with Thompson (since I read an article today advising GS they need to get Love, even if they have to include Klay). Other than that, I roll the dice and keep him...hoping that either he decides to stay, or that we will be better off with just the cap space tham with any of the offers.

Misty, should I check option 1 or option 2?

[Monster]

If Love was truly a player who could carry his team to the playoffs I might feel differently. But I haven't seen any evidence that we can make the playoffs with him. Get what you can before the season.

It's a bit ironic that Kahn was likely correct when he said Love would be the third best player on a championship team. I would argue that he could be the second best on a team with a dominant 1 or 2 guard, but still, for all that Kahn got wrong, including Love's extension, he was mostly right about that.

This is a solid take, but I actually disagree with it strongly because Kahn was wrong about Love. Kahn never thought Love would be anywhere near a franchise player and what I find mind boggling is people continue to put a limit on Love's upside. Every year except the year that was lost to injury Love has improved his game in a significant way. Last year he added passing (lets see if its for real wherever he is playing this year) and also refined his post moves and added that stepback jumper. I think there have been many indicators in the past over his evolving career that Love was going to be a very good player, but over the years people have generally ignored those and Love has continued to prove people wrong.

Look we know that teams have to have legit talent to win a championship and Love has to improve his defense to be a championship player but you can say that for Dirk, Bosh even Pau are other bigmen that had to step up their game significantly at that end to get that ring. I think Love is capable of doing enough to be a championship level player even on the defensive end. One thing Kahn did right was value Love enough not to trade him, but he never believed in him enough to really sell out for him IMO. That was a wrong bet and thats why we are in the mess we are in right now with Love's contract. I'm not saying Love will carry this team or another team to the playoffs and a Championship player, but he might grow into that type of guy just like Dirk did.


I tend to vote with keep him, but I don't have enough info to really know what the situation really is and as other posters have mentioned what are these offers I am having to agree too.

[Phenom]

I find myself buying into the hype that Love truly wants out. I generally have positive feelings about players wanting to stay in Minnesota. I never believed the constant rumors that surrounded KG wanting out or Rubio never coming here. This time it is different for whatever reason. I believe that he wants out so it is easy for me to say trade him.

I certainly am tired of rebuilding like everyone else but the right trade could limit the pain if the team can be constructed correctly. If Flip trades off Love's salary, it can offer some real flexibility in building roster that makes more sense. Love should certainly command more than KG did because of his age so I am not really concerned about Flip taking a bad deal. The best news is teams like Boston and Sacramento coming out and saying they won't require a commitment from Love. Ainge has already proven that he will deal all of his cards for a guy he wants so with all that said, I am confident that Flip will get a good return; he just needs to draft well. Fortunately this looks like a deep draft and has some really nice PF and wing prospects that can really balance the roster.

Going off of the belief that Love wants out, I vote to trade him now and I vote for Boston.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I'm actually excited about this offseason and I absolutely want to trade Kevin Love. I think the Wolves take a step back and then two steps forward. A top 7 pick this year (hopefully the top pick) and next year we could get a top 5 pick and if we draft smartly for a change we could build a new young nucleus (Rubio, Wiggins, 2015 pick, Deng).

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm actually excited about this offseason and I absolutely want to trade Kevin Love. I think the Wolves take a step back and then two steps forward. A top 7 pick this year (hopefully the top pick) and next year we could get a top 5 pick and if we draft smartly for a change we could build a new young nucleus (Rubio, Wiggins, 2015 pick, Deng).

This is pretty much how I feel too. I feel as though we've given this group several years to make the playoffs and take big steps, but injuries and other reasons have caused them to fail. Kahn also deserves blame for drafting poorly over the years when we had high picks.

Building a new team through the draft, especially with a high pick, does create new buzz and excitement. I'm also young enough to where I can certainly go through another rebuild and hope it's done right.

There's a split opinion on Flip being in charge of basketball operations, but I'm one who believes he knows what he's doing and has been successful through his first year. Trading 9 for 14/21 last year proved to be a good move, whether you like Flip or not.

Let's say we do trade Love for the CLE package I hope for: No. 1, Waiters, Thompson. If Love guaranteed a re-sign with them for some reason, we could ask for another 1st rounder, but I'm keeping it basic here.

1: Parker
13: Stauskas

PG: Rubio
SG: Stauskas
SF: Parker
PF: Thompson
C: Pekovic

B: Waiters
B: Martin
B: Muhammad
B: Dieng

While this team likely isn't a playoff team right away, I do think it would be a competitive and exciting one immediately with a good future. 7 prospects that are 23 or younger. Rubio, Pekovic and Martin providing veteran stability on the roster. A creative new coach might squeeze a playoff team out of this if Parker/Stauskas prove to be good in their rookie season, though I wouldn't bet on an 8-seed.

I know there's debates over Parker/Wiggins and getting Thompson or Bennett in the CLE deal, but this is the ideal situation in my mind. Rooting for this scenario.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Excuse the long post. It's late (or early?) and I have nothing better to do than think/talk about basketball.

[Monster]

I find myself buying into the hype that Love truly wants out. I generally have positive feelings about players wanting to stay in Minnesota. I never believed the constant rumors that surrounded KG wanting out or Rubio never coming here. This time it is different for whatever reason. I believe that he wants out so it is easy for me to say trade him.

I certainly am tired of rebuilding like everyone else but the right trade could limit the pain if the team can be constructed correctly. If Flip trades off Love's salary, it can offer some real flexibility in building roster that makes more sense. Love should certainly command more than KG did because of his age so I am not really concerned about Flip taking a bad deal. The best news is teams like Boston and Sacramento coming out and saying they won't require a commitment from Love. Ainge has already proven that he will deal all of his cards for a guy he wants so with all that said, I am confident that Flip will get a good return; he just needs to draft well. Fortunately this looks like a deep draft and has some really nice PF and wing prospects that can really balance the roster.

Going off of the belief that Love wants out, I vote to trade him now and I vote for Boston.

This is a good take I believe Love is leaning towards leaving because he wants to win and is tired of losing here. I can't blame him for this and the franchise gave him this option to do so with that stupid contract. Flip should have the knowledge of where Love is at to make a well informed decision. I don't know I lean towards Love doesn't think this team has what it takes but hasn't checked out yet. When I read that at this moment I feel like I'm holding onto false hope unless Flip can really put together a heck of an offseason starting with the draft.

One thing I feel fairly certain about Love is he is going to go to a team to win not for the money or because its a cool place to live etc. Love has commited a lot of hard work and dedication to becoming a really good player I think he only goes to a team he really thinks is going to compete for a championship. This seems maybe obvious but some player I'm not always sure they seem so unpredictable.

So let's say the Wolves go down the road of trading Love. Let's say Dieng fullfills his promise of what we saw down the stretch last year and becomes at worst a legit starting center. The Wolves would have some nice pieces for rebuild. Pek could be moved for a player or other assets. Martin still has value. If Chase can get healthy he could be a piece for this roster or an actual trade asset. Even Brewer might bring back something in the right deal. This team does have some good to decent assets and Pek and Martin are the only guys signed long-term and they are player that can actually play basketball so they can be moved and even get something back. I won't be excited to trade Love and likely some point Pek and a full rebuild, but this team could end up being setup well for a full rebuild if it hits big on a draft pick and drafts reasonably well and makes the right trades. I'll still be depressed if Love is traded but I can see why people can get excited about the future without him. I will too it will take awhile. Its still gonna suck seeing him become an even better player on another team (unless injuries slow him down which I hope not).

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think one thing that needs to be recognized is that we were 27th in attendance last year with Love and Ricky. If we go into another full rebuild now and lose for 4+ more years, Glen is going to either sell the franchise or move it to another city because that attendance number isn't going up for another rebuilding project. I for one do not want to tank just to see another city reap the benefits because nobody in this state is going to want to watch another 4 years minimum of losing. Do you guys think Seattle enjoys watching the Thunder contend every year? Not to mention that if another full rebuild fails, you've just turned a 10 year drought into a 20 year drought. 10 years is too long to find it acceptable to me to go right back to the bottom in hopes you get a contender. We had our shot at drafting the pieces for a contender and missed, so now it is time to start making the playoffs maybe get to a few second rounds and we can rebuild in another 10 years when we aren't scarred by a 10 year losing drought. If it's the difference between keeping the team and losing it which it realistically could be, then I take door #2 10 out of 10 times.

[mjs34]

I'd voted to keep Love, partly due to what Khan posted above, but more because I have zero confidence in Flip to pull off a good trade for him.

[Phenom]

I certainly understand the concerns about rebuilding and attendance. These are extremely valid concerns. Patience is wearing thin with most Wolves fans, including myself. If Flip keeps Love and he walks, it will only exacerbate the problem, unfortunately. A last minute deal for Love won't likely bring in any great pieces either. A trade with Boston could give the team a handful of picks, that if hit out of the park, could propel the team quickly; as soon as next season with picks 6 and 17.