Love and Our Future

[Coolbreeze44]

I've spent a lot of time worrying about the ultimate fate of the Wolves as it pertains to Kevin Love. It's hard to stomach the thought of another complete rebuild if he should happen to leave. But a new reality has started to emerge with this team and it's future. Love had an MVP type year this season and yet we weren't even close to the playoffs. It's not his fault, he is a great basketball player and a pleasure to watch. But let's face it, with or without him we are not going to be playing in May anytime soon.

As great as he is, he's not one of those players who can get you to the playoffs by his mere presence. Of course there aren't very many of those guys. Lebron, Durant, Kobe in his prime, and even KG was able to do it for many years here. Love just doesn't affect the game enough on both ends of the floor to have that kind of impact. So I ask you, would getting a nice package for Love this offseason be the worst thing that could happen? I think any deal would have to include a top 4 pick in this draft plus other young assets or picks. It will be interesting to see what teams land in those first 4 spots, and which of those teams would benefit by a Love trade.

Since we can't seem to succeed with Love anyway, maybe breaking free of the cloud hanging over the franchise and ending all the speculation would be a fresh beginning. At least we would be dealing with known factors and could take back complete control of our future. I wouldn't be completely shocked if we made a great trade and had a successful draft this summer, that we could finish .500 next year. That coupled with a young roster and replenished assets would give us something we might not have right now - hope.

[thedoper]

We are in a strange spot. I really don't think there is any way we get a top 4 pick for Love unless we manage to work something out with the Lakers. I don't think the other teams in the top 4 will be destinations Love wants to go to and therefore they wouldn't take the risk to have Love leave in Free agency. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on the tweaks that can be made I think we just need to wait for Love to make it clear what his intentions are and see what happens. I can see some potentially good things happening around the assets we have as long as Flip is not trying to sell that the status quo is the plan and that this roster has the goods to get us where we need to go.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't think Love can be much better than he was this year, and I'm fairly certain he won't be as healthy. His trade value is at the pinnacle right now.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'd give Love a better bench and more three-point shooters around him, then see how the team plays. We can always trade him next year. No need to rush as we should gain a significant haul regardless.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd give Love a better bench and more three-point shooters around him, then see how the team plays. We can always trade him next year. No need to rush as we should gain a significant haul regardless.

But Cam, isn't this the draft you want to take advantage of?

[mjs34]

I'd give Love a better bench and more three-point shooters around him, then see how the team plays. We can always trade him next year. No need to rush as we should gain a significant haul regardless.

But Cam, isn't this the draft you want to take advantage of?

Cool, I agree this is draft they would want a top pick in. I think Flip needs to sit down with Love and try and get him to opt in for the final year to at least give us more bargaining power in a S&T, unfortunately that really isn't in his best interest to do that. It would be nice to see Love set a goal for the wolves to hit.

Cam, I know we need to get better at perimeter shooting, but our bigger problem offensively is not being able to break down a team off the dribble. We need to find a SG that can do that for us.

[The Rage Monster [enjin:8010341]]

Unless we win the lottery, Flip has basically 2 options this summer, trade Pek or trade Love. Love has been very consistent in what he wants, he wants to win. He's never said anything about money or wanting to be the man, if he doesn't see the team being a contender in the near future I think he's gone.

If I'm Flip I start with Pek, if as some have suggested we can't get anything that would have a significant impact I'd move to Love. I think it's too risky to wait until next year, any injury that keeps our core players out for an extended period of time would significantly reduce our leverage. Right now Flip can sell other GM's on being a .500 team with a lottery pick and the MLE to improve the team enough to keep Love. Flip won't be able to do that at the deadline or next summer, plus if they change the draft eligibility then picks next year won't be nearly as valuable.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Cool, yes, this looks to be a very impressive draft. Though, none of them are for-sure products whereas we already have a 25-year old Kevin Love. It's really tough to give up a known quantity as good as Love is for a prospect that isn't proven when you don't necessarily have to just yet.

Sjm, off the dribble is a problem, but I still believe being able to stretch the floor is a bigger need. With two inside presences such as Pek and Love, and Rubio's creating ability, shooters are an absolute must. Right now we have Love (36%), Martin (39%) and Bud (36%) as the only shooters who are worth keeping a body on behind the arc. I believe we can and should add at least two more.

Obviously I believe we can add one in the draft (Stauskas), but we might be able to add two in free agency depending on the cap space Flip is able to create plus the $5M increase in the cap itself.

Trevor Ariza (35% career, 41% in 2013) and Steve Blake (39%) would be my targets.

As for an off the dribble threat, I'd ask where we would get one. I don't see many, if any, legit options to fill that need.

If I had it my way...

Rubio/Blake
Martin/Stauskas
Ariza/Brewer
Love/Hummel
Pekovic/Dieng

With Budinger and Turiaf ready to fill in if necessary. At least three shooters on the floor at all times. Pekovic starts, keeps the Wolves first half offensive production at a high, but Dieng finishes the game providing defensive intensity. Not a bad option at all as Pek could get the opposition in foul trouble making the game easier for Dieng. It would also allow Pek to foul at the rim if need be since we have legit depth there.

A lineup of Rubio/Stauskas/Martin/Ariza/Love would be fun if we needed a three, with Rubio inbounding. Rubio/Brewer/Ariza/Love/Dieng for defense down the stretch.

[mjs34]

If we go into next season with Hummel as our backup PF, I'll find something else to do!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If we go into next season with Hummel as our backup PF, I'll find something else to do!

Hummel/2nd round pick/NBA vet/Muhammad

Backup PF wasn't meant to be the main view point of that post...