Quiet Before the Storm

[Lipoli390]

It's almost 10:30 Central on Thursday, July 24 and not a single bit of news, rumor or innuendo from any media outlet, reporter or reputed sources about the Kevin Love situation. What does that tell us? It tells us that something is actually about to happen.

That's the way it almost always happens. Lots of noise with one hot rumor supplemented or contradicted by another in a never-ending stream of information and opinion that puts all who care on an emotional rollercoaster. The pace of the noise and chatter accelerates. Then, abrubtly, the accelerating stream of noise suddently gives way to silence. A calm sets in briefly, followed shortly by the announcement of a major deal. That's the way it feels now with the Kevin Love trade speculation.

The chatter surrounding Love has been dominating NBA sports coverage ever since the dust settled on LeBron's announcement of his return to Cleveland. Since then, we've seen and heard multiple reports about whether Love should be traded, his trade value, who has the best chance of getting him and what sort of package the Wolves should reasonably expect in return. More recently, we've seen dozens of reports of possible deals in the works, particularly with the Cavs. Those reports and the surrounding speculation reached a crescendo this week with confirmation that the Cavs would include Wiggins in a deal for Love and then reports that the Bulls were making a big push for Love.

Suddently, this morning, all is quiet. Not a single media report. No significant tweets from any reporters.

So what does this mean? It means Flip and his coherts no longer simply exchanging ideas and proposals with various other teams. It means they are actually negotiating details of a deal. Flip and his crew are in a conference room with a speaker phone talking to their counterparts in Chicago or Cleveland. A third team's front office executives may be on that same conference call as well as part of a wider 3 ro 4 team deal. But make no mistake about it, a deal is in the works.

What do I think the deal will be? I think it will probably be a deal with Cleveland. And I think the Sixers will be involved. Here's what I see as something close to the final transaction:

1. The Wolves end up with Wiggins, Bennett and Thaddeus Young along with Miami's 2015 top 10 protected 1st round pick and the Grizzlies' protected 2015 1st round pick, which will likely come to the Wolves in 2017 when it will only be top 5 protected. The Wolves will also get the Cavs' three recently signed players with nonguaranteed contracts to comply wiht the salary match requirement without the need for Wiggins to sign with the Cavs.

2. I see Cleveland ending up with Love from the Wolves and both Tony Wroten and J. Vernado from the Sixers.

3. I see the Sixers ending up with Waiters, Brewer and Luc Mbah a Moute along with the Cavs own 2016 1st round pick and a future Wolves 2nd round pick.

This deal would not require Wiggins to sign with Cleveland and, hence, would not require the parties to wait 30 days.

When will the deal be announced? Tomorrow.

[bleedspeed]

Lip, I hope you are right.

We would end up with:

PG: Rubio/Lavine/Barea
SG: Martin/Lavine/Budinger
SF: Wiggins/Shabazz/Hummel
PF: Young/Bennett
C: Pekovic/Dieng/Turiaf

One open roster spot.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I agree for the most part, except I think Barea is for sure involved. I see Barea heading to Philly and Brewer on his way to Cleveland.

As everybody knows, I'm going to be very happy if (when) we get Thad Young out of all this. We need stability with all these young players we're about to have (Wiggins, Dieng, LaVine, Muhammad, Robinson III) and he's an NBA veteran who just turned 26. Ideally, we'd re-sign him after next year. Flip's getting athletes for Rubio to play with, no doubt about it.

I also like how Robinson III is left out of your proposed deal, Lip. Finally! No reason for Flip to give up a guy he feels was a first round talent in a deep draft, not to mention he'll be on a really cheap contract.

I'd much rather have Waiters coming to Minnesota instead of Bennett. Like I've said plenty of times, Bennett does nothing for me and I'd hope Philly would pick him up instead. If not, then it's not a deal-breaker, but I would still push hard to keep Waiters.

PG: Rubio/LaVine
SG: Martin/Budinger
SF: Wiggins/Muhammad
PF: Young/Bennett
C: Pekovic/Dieng

I could get behind that. Funny, our backup SF plays like a PF and our backup PF plays like a SF. How ironic.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I sure hope this deal is announced tomorrow Lip. I can't take another weekend of this! I'm not sure it's a good idea to give up Brewer and Luc as our perimeter defense will be lacking for sure, but I'd be ok with the deal you're proposing.

I would hope they could trade Barea at the deadline to a playoff team (back to Dallas?), as I'm assuming we'll be a 30-35 win team with that roster Bleed put down.

I've been happy with Flip in this process as well.

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

The sooner the trade happens the better, I want my life back to normal

[AbeVigodaLive]

I agree for the most part, except I think Barea is for sure involved. I see Barea heading to Philly and Brewer on his way to Cleveland.

As everybody knows, I'm going to be very happy if (when) we get Thad Young out of all this. We need stability with all these young players we're about to have (Wiggins, Dieng, LaVine, Muhammad, Robinson III) and he's an NBA veteran who just turned 26. Ideally, we'd re-sign him after next year. Flip's getting athletes for Rubio to play with, no doubt about it.

I also like how Robinson III is left out of your proposed deal, Lip. Finally! No reason for Flip to give up a guy he feels was a first round talent in a deep draft, not to mention he'll be on a really cheap contract.

I'd much rather have Waiters coming to Minnesota instead of Bennett. Like I've said plenty of times, Bennett does nothing for me and I'd hope Philly would pick him up instead. If not, then it's not a deal-breaker, but I would still push hard to keep Waiters.

PG: Rubio/LaVine
SG: Martin/Budinger
SF: Wiggins/Muhammad
PF: Young/Bennett
C: Pekovic/Dieng

I could get behind that. Funny, our backup SF plays like a PF and our backup PF plays like a SF. How ironic.

LaVine as a PG? He doesn't have the handles, vision, ability nor smarts to play that spot... why would you put him there as a rookie?

Or, am I missing something here?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

...Because that's his true position right now. Played PG his whole life except for his only year at UCLA where Steve Alford forced him off-ball, which is head-scratching considering he played his son at PG instead. He's shown enough even in SL that he has a good handle and court vision. Just needs to cut down on the TOs, but that should come with time. He's going to run the second unit more than you think, Abe. Flip's going to develop him at both guard spots.

[Coolbreeze44]

Lip, I hope you are right.

We would end up with:

PG: Rubio/Lavine/Barea
SG: Martin/Lavine/Budinger
SF: Wiggins/Shabazz/Hummel
PF: Young/Bennett
C: Pekovic/Dieng/Turiaf

One open roster spot.

That would be something to get excited about, and a team that could grown into a contender over time.

[bleedspeed]

That trade would make us super athletic. Team would still need a backup PG and a enforcer.

[TAFKASP]

Lip, I hope you are right.

We would end up with:

PG: Rubio/Lavine/Barea
SG: Martin/Lavine/Budinger
SF: Wiggins/Shabazz/Hummel
PF: Young/Bennett
C: Pekovic/Dieng/Turiaf

One open roster spot.

That would be something to get excited about, and a team that could grown into a contender over time.

Of the 14 players on that list at least 8 are young, athletic, with good to great upside! I don't know how a person could be anything but excited!