Minnesota Sports Forum

papalrep wrote:LIP---If Flip can't get a top young vet like a Parsons or Thompson or a potential star rookie like Wiggins, Exum or Parker, then He needs to take the deal that gives us the best array of future picks and short term contracts.

I agree
He is not coming back, period. He believes (I believe) that he has been dissed by Khan, Taylor, and now Flip and Ricky. He was detached and uninterested, that was rumored last year. He's gone.

So the question - do we want picks (Boston deal) or nothing, and do what we can with the cap space. Q and Cam seem to think we have some form of leverage here. We don't have shit. This is make the best of a blown relationship. Value for value is not going to happen.

Papal- I line up with you and Lip on this one. Love returning to play for us in October would be a disaster. Flip and Ricky feeling comfortable being critical of Love publicly signals a new approach...they aren't going to hold back and coddle him anymore, and Love doesn't like it. After he is traded, look for other Wolves' to join the chorus. You mention the dis by Kahn as a reason that he is unhappy. It seems incomprehensible that an adult could hold a grudge against a franchise because an employee who was subsequently fired dissed him, but this is the petulant Kevin Love we're talking about. Why stop at Kahn? He's probably holds it against the Wolves that fired coach Kurt Rambis talked so poorly about him. That seems to be how Kevin's mind works. LeBron would have a right to be pissed off at the Cavs because of the owner's foolish letter, but LBJ has the maturity and capacity to forgive. But Love has no reason to be angry at the Wolves because of things Rambis and Kahn said or did. And he has no cause to be angry with the Wolves because Flip and Ricky spoke the truth, albeit in a quite gentle manner.

God, I hope Flip can get something for this guy, because the demand for him just doesn't seem to be that high. I still like the prospect of a couple Celtics players and picks. I think it's the best we're going to do.

LST mentioned poor chemistry last year and attributes some of it to Love. That stance could have some merit. One thing I'll remind people about the Wolves if you want some optimism...

Three of the Wolves starters basically didn't play with the team the year before. Love had a lost season Martin and Brewer were brought in. Martin had played for Adelman before but nobody else had played with him. Then the Wolves traded Williams early who had played a decent chunk the last 2 years for another new player. The best players on this team have played 1 season together and of course Pek and Martin not even a whole season. That and the fact that the bench was terrible was a significant factor in the Wolves sorta looking out of sync and not being able to finish out close games. Flip is going to bring a different coaching look to the team but that could be a positive. I'm sure basically everyone understands it usually takes a while to build that chemistry or just understanding of playing with each other.

Take a step back a starting lineup of Rubio Martin Brewer Love and Pek is actually pretty good. Its the bench and depth that's the big question mark(other than what to do with Love) especially with guys like Pek and Martin that will likely miss around 20 games each. Can Flip get more out of vets and can some of the young guys show development? Also will Love continue his trend of stepping up his game every year he was healthy? I wouldn't bet against that. The west is tough but if the Wolves actually have depth this year and can play in sync more they have a shot you never know what teams will have injuries etc.

longstrangetrip wrote:

papalrep wrote:LIP---If Flip can't get a top young vet like a Parsons or Thompson or a potential star rookie like Wiggins, Exum or Parker, then He needs to take the deal that gives us the best array of future picks and short term contracts.

I agree
He is not coming back, period. He believes (I believe) that he has been dissed by Khan, Taylor, and now Flip and Ricky. He was detached and uninterested, that was rumored last year. He's gone.

So the question - do we want picks (Boston deal) or nothing, and do what we can with the cap space. Q and Cam seem to think we have some form of leverage here. We don't have shit. This is make the best of a blown relationship. Value for value is not going to happen.

Papal- I line up with you and Lip on this one. Love returning to play for us in October would be a disaster. Flip and Ricky feeling comfortable being critical of Love publicly signals a new approach...they aren't going to hold back and coddle him anymore, and Love doesn't like it. After he is traded, look for other Wolves' to join the chorus. You mention the dis by Kahn as a reason that he is unhappy. It seems incomprehensible that an adult could hold a grudge against a franchise because an employee who was subsequently fired dissed him, but this is the petulant Kevin Love we're talking about. Why stop at Kahn? He's probably holds it against the Wolves that fired coach Kurt Rambis talked so poorly about him. That seems to be how Kevin's mind works. LeBron would have a right to be pissed off at the Cavs because of the owner's foolish letter, but LBJ has the maturity and capacity to forgive. But Love has no reason to be angry at the Wolves because of things Rambis and Kahn said or did. And he has no cause to be angry with the Wolves because Flip and Ricky spoke the truth, albeit in a quite gentle manner.

God, I hope Flip can get something for this guy, because the demand for him just doesn't seem to be that high. I still like the prospect of a couple Celtics players and picks. I think it's the best we're going to do.

LST, I'm with you on every point here. It would be a terrible situation to have him on the team next year. And I have liked the Celtics deal potential from day 1. I think Flip may get the last laugh yet on this.

If I'm Flip, I use the Celtics as leverage to scoop Wiggins from the Cavs. Say look Boston has a pretty solid offer on the table (better than Waiters & Bennett) and we're going to take it unless you send Wiggins. Thus creating another potential roadblock for the Cleveland to get to the finals.

Its a bonus as Love is no guarantee to win big in Boston, as well as we would get some solid building blocks & stick it to the cavs for being so full of themselves.

http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/kevin-love-responds-to-flip-saunders-refers-to-timberwolves-as-they-061114

I think its worth actually reading what Love actually said about the Wolves and response to what Flip said.

http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2014/07/12/target-center-taking-down-kevin-love-wallpaper

If Flip plans on just keeping Love next season why hasn't he filled any of the holes on the roster yet (i.e; a backup PF) I think that this is a good indication that he is still fielding Love offers with the intention of moving him when the time is right.

BUT, if we do hang on to Love and we end up with the same roster as last year (keeping Barea and Cunningham) I'm going to be so bummed. I don't understand a lot of this boards optimism for being better last year, is Shabazz and Dieng really going to give us that big of a boost?

p.s. i would really like to get Ed Davis, please Flip do something exciting this offseason

monsterpile wrote:http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/kevin-love-responds-to-flip-saunders-refers-to-timberwolves-as-they-061114

I think its worth actually reading what Love actually said about the Wolves and response to what Flip said.

Thanks for posting that, monster...I had not seen that interview before. I believe Love when he says he and Flip have a good relationship...Most people like Flip, and he's been good to Kevin.

But he actually seems much more checked out in this interview than in the infamous one where he dropped his first "they". He goes overboard with the "theys" in this one, and his point couldn't be any clearer. He says that he just wants to win, and he has the chance here to say "Hey, if the Wolves show me they can win, I would be happy to stay there". But he doesn't do it. I just can't envision him being happy if Flip can't deal him this summer.

[youtube]dsm05cQDalI[/youtube]

This is when I knew Kevin Love checked out and would request to be moved this offseason. That sports-nation appearance was not surprising to me. The "they" comments stung a little though.

+1 to Ed Davis.

I'm liking Flip more all the time. Remember he said "we will know more after the 11th" so it turns out Flip is tight with Lebron. Sweet! Lol