Love Visiting Boston This Weekend

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I'm on board with Coolbreaz and thedoper with regards to the return we need to expect from Love. If Boston is our trade partner, I don't just want, I expect at the very least the #6 pick and Brooklyn's 2015 (and perhaps 2018) unprotected pick in return, plus Olynyk or Sullinger.

Lip, I respectfully disagree that Flip should take what he can get for Love. I also disagree with the notion that it's a given that we lose Love if we don't trade him. In addition to leaving a possible playoff team in the Wolves, Love has 26.5 million reasons to stay here more than any other team. You may assume that's a given but players rarely walk away from that type of money....there are only a few examples, and I'm not convinced Love would do it if we called his bluff.

longstrange, I think what you're overlooking there is the fact that you were listening to radio guys talk about Love. Let's face it, much of the national media doesn't know much about the Wolves. They think Rubio is a pourous defender who can pass and do nothing else even at a reasonable level, when in fact he was #2 in steals, #4 in assists, and one of the top (if not the top) rebounder at the position as well. Love is definitely not a plus defender, but like Lip said, like Love or hate him, he's widely regarded as the #1 PF in the NBA...and although KG was a better overall player in his prime, KG was at the end of his prime when he left the Wolves, while Love is about to enter his prime at age 25. KG was what? Like 32 or so when we traded him I believe?

I believe Flip has to be flexible. Pull the trigger on a trade if it blows you away ala the Cavs could or Boston 'could', but don't dare settle with a team that has the assets to put more onto the table. If they want an elite player and don't want to have to convince him in FA, then they'll pony up now...and if not, let's play some chicken.

Yep, your last paragraph exactly summarizes what Flip's strategy has to be. Thanks for stating it so concisely, hockey. I agree that absent a "blow-away" offer, Flip needs to wait this one out.
My prediction is that Love is still a Wolf next year. We will never know for sure what offers Flip turned down, because there will be a lot of misinformation floating around, so it will be impossible to evaluate Flip's decision. I'm going to trust that he knows a good offer when he sees one.

[Monster]

saying Love is overrated and he isn't a 2 way player and they don't win championships is just lazy analysis. Here are the facts;
4th in scoring
3rd in rebounding
1st in assists for PF
25 years old

Show me another player in history with numbers like those

Interestingly enough, I bet if you looked at KGs stats in his prime they'd look very similar

THis conversation about where Love can take a team how good he is or isn't and comments on his defense>>>>I have some thoughts WARNING! Love Homer post, but I think I have some legit thoughts here.

1. Like I said somewhere Love is 25 and every year he has been healthy has improved his game. Maybe he becomes the next Dirk on offense plus Love rebounds the heck f the ball and even improves from last year's passing. that woudl be a heck of a player and Love is pretty good right now.

2. Remember when Billups and Rip were known as bad defenders then went to the Pistons and basically instantly were a part of one of the best defensive teams i the league? Billups always had the physical ability and Rip was a thin player but got it done. Love Probably isn't ever going to be a significant asset on the defensive end, but he could improve and just like any part of being a better team improving talent around him and a system could make all the difference. Thats partly why I say Dieng is so significant to this franchise if he turns out to be a valuable rotation player. Lets just look at last year. Pek I believe is overall an above average defender, but he and Love are a poor fit. Rubio and Brewer tend to take some chances and Martin has been know throughout his career as a poor defender. That all stacks up to not a very good defense and tough for Love to look good or even play good defense. Some guys are great individual defenders so far Love is not. He needs to improve to be at least average, but it would be nice to see him play with some guys that fit better like Dieng and a system that works as well.

3 Love hasn't been surounded by talent and or coaching for a few of the years he was here. His rookie year it was Wittman (he seems to have improved) then there was the Rambis debacle which only looks worse the farther along history you go which is frightening. Kahn swung and missed on go big or go home risk reward deals that didn't pan out. Adelman came on board the year it looked like we had things rolling in 2012-2013 was a lost year for Love and a bunch of other injuries in what might have been a promising season. I don't want to defend Love too much for not getting into the playoffs, but its pretty easy to excuse most of the years he has had on this team as not his fault for the most part.

I realize most of this post is stuff we already know and have discussed over but I thought it was worth mentioning to the conversation.

One thing I'll say is that I've often wondered this year about what the overall talent gap really is between say this Miami team and the Cavs teams Lebron played on. I believe Lebron is a much better player in pretty much every way and Spolstra is working some magic because its really not that impressive of a roster on paper.

[Lipoli390]

I think Olynyk, Green, and #6 is laughable. I really do. I am 100% confident that we can do better than that if we trade him the night of the draft. If we can't, by all means keep him and see what happens. Flip would be painted a worse version of David Kahn if he made that deal.

Cool - I also think we can do better than that. But Olynyk is a very talented player. Look at his post All-Star game numbers. Green is solid and the #6 pick could yield an all-star caliber talent. I'll take that if the alternative is letting Love walk. Cap room alone would be a terrible outcome. Who's going to sign here next season as a free agent?

[thedoper]

The bottom is line is do we want an extra year to rebuild or an extra year of competitive basketball. If this 6 is potential all star caliber talent that doesn't thrill me. I want a top tier prospect and I don't count 6 of them in this draft. We can lose the ole fashioned way after Love leaves rather than take on a bunch of crap so we are a semi competitive rebuilding squad.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think Olynyk, Green, and #6 is laughable. I really do. I am 100% confident that we can do better than that if we trade him the night of the draft. If we can't, by all means keep him and see what happens. Flip would be painted a worse version of David Kahn if he made that deal.

Cool - I also think we can do better than that. But Olynyk is a very talented player. Look at his post All-Star game numbers. Green is solid and the #6 pick could yield an all-star caliber talent. I'll take that if the alternative is letting Love walk. Cap room alone would be a terrible outcome. Who's going to sign here next season as a free agent?

Lip, this year I think you need to be able to get Wiggins, Parker, Embiid, or Vonleh. I don't think that happens from the 6th position. Yes, Olynyk is decent and I like Green. but IMO it's just not enough when paired with #6.

[WildWolf2813]

I think Olynyk, Green, and #6 is laughable. I really do. I am 100% confident that we can do better than that if we trade him the night of the draft. If we can't, by all means keep him and see what happens. Flip would be painted a worse version of David Kahn if he made that deal.

Cool - I also think we can do better than that. But Olynyk is a very talented player. Look at his post All-Star game numbers. Green is solid and the #6 pick could yield an all-star caliber talent. I'll take that if the alternative is letting Love walk. Cap room alone would be a terrible outcome. Who's going to sign here next season as a free agent?

Olynyk is crap and a poor fit here. He doesn't block shots, doesn't play D, doesn't rebound, doesn't shoot outside well unless it's in low volume and his best attribute is redundant with Pek. What would we even be expecting from him? Besides, if we're gonna fall in the gutter again, 2015 is a draft filled with big men. All you're doing is giving away Love for a package built around a future bench player.

[WildWolf2813]

I think Olynyk, Green, and #6 is laughable. I really do. I am 100% confident that we can do better than that if we trade him the night of the draft. If we can't, by all means keep him and see what happens. Flip would be painted a worse version of David Kahn if he made that deal.

Cool - I also think we can do better than that. But Olynyk is a very talented player. Look at his post All-Star game numbers. Green is solid and the #6 pick could yield an all-star caliber talent. I'll take that if the alternative is letting Love walk. Cap room alone would be a terrible outcome. Who's going to sign here next season as a free agent?

Lip, this year I think you need to be able to get Wiggins, Parker, Embiid, or Vonleh. I don't think that happens from the 6th position. Yes, Olynyk is decent and I like Green. but IMO it's just not enough when paired with #6.

If the Wolves draft at 6 after a trade with Boston, I think they take Marcus Smart to replace Ricky. I don't think Flip wants to then deal with any questions regarding Ricky after losing Love. He may just wanna jump start his 10 year rebuild now

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I think Olynyk, Green, and #6 is laughable. I really do. I am 100% confident that we can do better than that if we trade him the night of the draft. If we can't, by all means keep him and see what happens. Flip would be painted a worse version of David Kahn if he made that deal.

Cool - I also think we can do better than that. But Olynyk is a very talented player. Look at his post All-Star game numbers. Green is solid and the #6 pick could yield an all-star caliber talent. I'll take that if the alternative is letting Love walk. Cap room alone would be a terrible outcome. Who's going to sign here next season as a free agent?

Olynyk is crap and a poor fit here. He doesn't block shots, doesn't play D, doesn't rebound, doesn't shoot outside well unless it's in low volume and his best attribute is redundant with Pek. What would we even be expecting from him? Besides, if we're gonna fall in the gutter again, 2015 is a draft filled with big men. All you're doing is giving away Love for a package built around a future bench player.

Well, he does all the things Love does just at a lower level. Great feel for the game; passing, shooting, rebounding, post offense. Doesn't alter shots at the rim, no, but he is close to being a seven footer, so at least he has some length. Poor fit? I'll give you that, but in no way is he crap.

In the nine games he started, he scored 13 PPG, 7 RPG, 3 APG, 49% FG, 35% 3P (7-20) in 28 MPG.

Look at his splits when he got 30-39 minutes (six games): 18 PPG, 9 RPG and 4 APG. 49% from the field.

And since those aren't large sample sizes, I'll direct you to his numbers per36. 16 PPG, 9 RPG and 3 APG. Again with good efficiency.

I'm sure someone can dive into his advanced stats even more, but everything will tell you he isn't crap. He's very skilled and produced well last year in his rookie campaign.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"Timberwolves Not Enamored With Celtics' Potential Offer For Kevin Love"

"The Timberwolves reportedly believe they have already fielded better trade offers, including from the Chicago Bulls."

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Maybe the Boston thing was a bit overblown, even though it did look really bad. Love's agent, Jeff Schwartz, is a Red Sox fan. Love had previously never been to Boston. Why not catch a game with his agent and discuss his future during a ball game.

And with the report that the Wolves aren't blown away with the Celtics offer, this might lead me to believe that it was just really poor timing on Love's part.

But we're back to the big question. If Love doesn't want out, why doesn't he just say so. "Because he doesn't have to" isn't a good enough reason.

Fingers crossed that before the end of June, Dan Gilbert falls in love with the idea of Kyrie & Kevin. Then they can sign the Bulls assistant to be their HC and overpay for Luol Deng. That team's probably good enough for top-six in the East if healthy (Irving, FA, Deng, Love, Varejao). Hell, they could even give Stephenson a fat contract and see if he bites. Yay for the Cavs! I just want that No. 1 pick, Waiters and Thompson. Cough it up.