zigzag22 wrote:Extremely frightening that some of you are OK with letting Love stay on the team and attempting to "roll the dice" on the season. We haven't done a single thing this offseason aside from add Lavine (who I do really like), while Western conference teams like Dallas, Portland, New Orleans, Phoenix, etc. have all added major pieces.
And that's BEFORE guys like Pierce, Gasol, Deng, etc. sign (possibly with teams like OKC, LAC, and SA). It is by far in our best interest to trade Love now, sit out a year or two, and collect assets/develop players that allow us to actually have sustainable success.
What did Dallas and Portland do to improve this offseason. Dallas traded their starting PG and C for another C and Raymond Felton. They are losing Marion and maybe Carter, and may get Parsons. That doesn't look like anything to write home about. Portland looks like they will lose Mo Williams, and replace him with Blake. I'll take Mo, and he was really important for Portland off the bench.
zigzag22 wrote:Extremely frightening that some of you are OK with letting Love stay on the team and attempting to "roll the dice" on the season. We haven't done a single thing this offseason aside from add Lavine (who I do really like), while Western conference teams like Dallas, Portland, New Orleans, Phoenix, etc. have all added major pieces.
And that's BEFORE guys like Pierce, Gasol, Deng, etc. sign (possibly with teams like OKC, LAC, and SA). It is by far in our best interest to trade Love now, sit out a year or two, and collect assets/develop players that allow us to actually have sustainable success.
Dallas got a major downgrade at the point position and brought back Chandler who is sinking fast. I doubt they will land Parsons at this point. Phoenix is stockpiling point guards and strangely dont seem to be getting flak like Minnesota did. Apparently they intend to keep Bledsoe and Ennis. Kaman doesnt move the needle much for me but Blake is ok. New Orleans has had a nice offseason addition but is incredibly injury prone pretty much top to bottom. Im not any more concerned at this point about those teams then I was last season.
Well put. We all know no matter what the West is tough and we all know teams have some options to improve but remember Houston lost 2 significant contributors in Lin and Asik and OKC lost Sefalosha. Who knows may e the Wolves end up making a small trade like they did moving Ellington for Dante and also sign a nice player with the MLE. That's not too crazy to consider.
Also so far Lakers have Kobe, Randle who might be good but is a rookie and some young junk and an old Nash. They don't scare me like I thought they were going to but FA isn't over yet.
Also the Kings let Thomas go for what? That makes them worse he was a really good player for them and they replace him with Collison who has been basically been proven to be a fringe starter at best. Big downgrade IMO.
Oh, side point...I agree that keeping Love is, and should continue to be, a legitimate option if we can't find a team that's willing to part with something significant. "Better to get something than nothing" is a misnomer. First, keeping Love an extra year gives us another shot at the playoffs, we keep the rights give Love a true max offer with a 5th year, and worst case? We free up $15 mil in cap room to fill with players that are no worse than the ones being currently offered in trade.
So pony up Cavs/Warriors/etc, or good luck in your quest to clear cap space next year for the "opportunity" to get in a free agent war for Love's services next year, which is likely to end up looking like what happened to the Knicks years ago or the Rockets this year.
mrhockey89 wrote:khans, I bet the Wolves win more games next year than they did this year if they trade Love for Klay and Lee
We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. Ricky/Brewer on your wings is a lot different than Curry/Iggy. Lee also doesn't solve any defensive problems. I don't think Thompson solves our defensive problems because we would still be just as bad at the rim.
While I agree Lee doesn't solve defensive issues, Klay does. Why? Because it puts less pressure on our bigs to cover for our perimeter defenders getting beat off the dribble. It also allows Ricky to play defense on the off-guard and playing passing lanes while Klay takes the ball handler. So with that, it hides a lot of defensive weaknesses. Don't agree? Then how does a team starting Steph Curry (not a defender) and David Lee (not a defender) end up #3 in the NBA in defensive efficiency?
I voted neither because I think with the attitude Flip has (according to Lip :) ), he is looking for more than just Klay or Wiggins. I think both GS and Cleveland are denying offering those guys in case a deal doesn't work out and also to try and minimize offers from other teams. They clearly think the longer they drag this out, the better chance of getting a deal done on their terms.
There is no denying Love is the better player of the 3, and by a substantial margin. Klay is looking to get paid, and based on new deals, will be asking for the max in GS. I would still like to deal Love to Boston if for no other reason than to watch him and Rondo go at each other. I bet they wouldn't last 30 games before having a blowup.
I will be happy if Flip keeps Love, so we can stiff both GS and Cleveland, and also Love in the process. Loves options seem to be shrinking quickly. The lakers have signed a significant amount of salary today in Young, and Hill. They will not have room for two big signings next season from what I am seeing. If Houston keeps Parson's they are likely out of the running. GS has no room and will have to worry about Klay's big contract as well. Boston and NY have nothing to draw Love in their direction. I see Dallas as a possibility, but who else is out there. Once Chicago signs Mirotic and McDermott, they don't have enough space for a max deal. Love might not have any options.
mrhockey89 wrote:Oh, side point...I agree that keeping Love is, and should continue to be, a legitimate option if we can't find a team that's willing to part with something significant. "Better to get something than nothing" is a misnomer. First, keeping Love an extra year gives us another shot at the playoffs, we keep the rights give Love a true max offer with a 5th year, and worst case? We free up $15 mil in cap room to fill with players that are no worse than the ones being currently offered in trade.
So pony up Cavs/Warriors/etc, or good luck in your quest to clear cap space next year for the "opportunity" to get in a free agent war for Love's services next year, which is likely to end up looking like what happened to the Knicks years ago or the Rockets this year.
Great post and if you are Love you have to be looking at this offseason and think "Man is I was able to opt out this year..." He would have had a lot of really great options not to mention he can get a nice long contract next summer for more money than he would be making on his current contract. Serious him opting out is sort of a no brainer even if he was gonna re-sign with the Wolves. Hopefully we keep him and we become one of those really good options.
mrhockey89 wrote:khans, I bet the Wolves win more games next year than they did this year if they trade Love for Klay and Lee
I know this sounds incredibly homeric of me, but I agree with that. I think we're all going to be astounded at the energy this team puts out next year without the tired old guy running the team and a superstar that his teammates hate. Addition my subtraction. Sometimes intangibles can be enormously important in a team's success. I really think the Wolves are going to be this year's Phoenix.
I think you guys are nuts thinking Wiggins has been offered and Flip is holding out for more. It's the Cavs who have decided they don't want to part with Wiggins. They've told him he is not going to be traded. There is no way Flip wants to keep Love at this point. That would be a terrible situation next year. I think Flip is being smart by biding his time, something I didn't believe he would do. But I'm sure he wants him gone and as soon as an offer presents itself that makes sense, he will be.
Cool, what has changed regarding Wiggins potential, and skillset. He is the same guy he was before they drafted him. I give him a 30% chance of being a top 15 player. I would take him with another asset, but I can't believe that Cleveland and GS would hold up a deal to get Love to keep these guys.
