I changed my mind

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

By the way, I don't think Flip values Bennett at all. He's just a throw-in to make salaries match, which is why he wants more in the deal.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

I know a front office wouldn't agree with me. If they didn't get something for a star they would lose their jobs. They need either future potential or contender status to sell to the owner/fans.

As an outside observer, though, I don't have to worry about a job. I can look at the math and see the way that we're more likely to win a title. My whole point has been that the odds of getting Love to stay are higher than the odds of us simultaneously finding two stars before Pek regresses or Ricky gets fed up and leaves.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Ace- what do you put the odds at convincing Love to stay? I would put them at 5% because that is how likely I think it would be that we could stack enough wins and show enough future potential where he would stay. I think we have a better than 5% chance that Ricky/Lavine/Wiggins and projected future picks nets us 1 star in the next 5 years which is all you can really compare because there are no scenario's out there right now where we can realistically obtain a second star to go with Love in the next 5 years considering he will be leaving after this year at the latest.

Pek is a role player who plays 60 games a year, so he isn't a significant factor in our title contending aspirations in my mind and I doubt he stays in MN for the length of his 5 year deal. He doesn't do the one thing centers need to do in today's NBA game which is protect the rim.

The fact that we might have a better shot a winning a title with Love than without is irrelevant in this case because he will be gone in 30 days be it to Cleveland or some place else. I just don't think of your title contending point as being relevant in this scenario because the options aren't keep Love long-term or deal him. The options are deal him or lose him for nothing.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

My odds of Love staying would be the same as either Ricky or LaVine becoming a star by the end of the season and the team getting to at least the second round. I feel that if that happens, Love stays. Those aren't good odds, but I would say higher than 5%. Maybe 15-20%

Trading for Wiggins buys Flip more time, but time causes problems too. Ricky likes Minnesota, but he has already said that he doesn't want to be around if the team bottoms out again. Either LaVine or Wiggins would have to contribute bigtime right away or we'll lose Rubio too.

Whether Love is traded or not, I think a lot of this team's hope is on LaVine. He needs to come up big. If not, we could just be the Post-Kevin Wolves 2.0.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I'm not worried about Ricky. He is a RFA so we pretty much control his destiny unless he takes the QO.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

I'm not worried about Ricky. He is a RFA so we pretty much control his destiny unless he takes the QO.

If we trade Love and both Wiggins and LaVine flop, I could see that happening. There is also always the option of asking to be traded.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

He would have to sign the QO next offseason. There is no way to know Wiggins and Lavine will be flops that quickly. His new deal is going to be done before your scenarios have time to play out.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

Yes, he will likely get an extension before we know what LaVine and Wiggins really are, but I could see him asking for a trade if we are a 20-win team in 3 seasons, two years into his 5-year deal.

[Monster]

I'm not worried about Ricky. He is a RFA so we pretty much control his destiny unless he takes the QO.

If we trade Love and both Wiggins and LaVine flop, I could see that happening. There is also always the option of asking to be traded.

IMO if the worry about Rubio staying isn't at least in the back of your mind you are kidding yourself. However if we get Wiggins I just don't see how he won't have an impact right away. With Love gone this team will need some scoring and Wiggins will get some shots. This won't be a good team but it won't be bad either with good players in Pek and Rubio on the team. In addition how many #1 overall picks in the past have had. A PG like Rubio to set them up? Wiggins will benefit both on some finishes around the rim and open jumpers from Ricky. If we get Wiggins I can see Ricky being excited about the direction of the team even if they only. Win 30 games or whatever. If LaVine sucks? Um we might be screwed either way Love or no Love. Franchises get pretty psyched about #1. Overall picks for a reason a lot of. The time they are very good players. So adding Wiggins (plus more in the trade and maybe something else Flip adds) and LaVine should keep Rubio excited going forward. He is a guy that seems like he would enjoy playing with some young talented dudes and this would also give him a chance to be the leader of the team pretty much built around him. Sounds fun and if he likes Flip which its been reported as the case then he will be back. It could go wrong though but let's hope for good things.

[TheGrey08]

If Love was to be kept with a decent chance of resigning, the best move might be to look to trade Pek for a 2 way wing who is solid on the offensive end while being good defensively. Unfortuately those types are highly sought after and seem to constantly get max or near max contracts (Iggy, Klay Thompson, etc). I love Pek's game, how he dominates down low and frustrates his opponent, but he just doesn't mesh very well defensively with Love. I think that's 1 of the key problems besides a lack of a legit 2 way wing.