Why I think the Love trade talks are at a stage of serious negotiation

[KGs Knee]

If the Wolves hold on to Love, he'll bolt and they won't get value for him. It's better to deal him now, and leave the drama behind.

Yeah but he is under contract for next season. Wolves have until feb 2015 to trade him

Yes, they do. But the offers will likely only get worse the closer to the deadline they wait. The lose leverage every day that passes.

Regardless of what type of deal they are looking for, they'd be best served to move quickly.

[BballTim]

If the Wolves hold on to Love, he'll bolt and they won't get value for him. It's better to deal him now, and leave the drama behind.

Yeah but he is under contract for next season. Wolves have until feb 2015 to trade him

  That means that there's a huge distraction for the team for all that time, and it won't help them get a good return. If we (for example) offer Minny our draft pick this year it's 6th. If we offer them our 2015 first rounder it's basically wherever we end up in the standings when the season ends, and the team's play would be bolstered by 2 months of Love on the team.

[kozlodoev]

Well, he says that he'd bolt, but this still may be a ploy, too. The Timberwolves can offer a ton more money than anyone who'd want him in free agency.

[Tr1boy]

If the Wolves hold on to Love, he'll bolt and they won't get value for him. It's better to deal him now, and leave the drama behind.

Yeah but he is under contract for next season. Wolves have until feb 2015 to trade him

  That means that there's a huge distraction for the team for all that time, and it won't help them get a good return. If we (for example) offer Minny our draft pick this year it's 6th. If we offer them our 2015 first rounder it's basically wherever we end up in the standings when the season ends, and the team's play would be bolstered by 2 months of Love on the team.

please Tim stop making the potential Celtics offer be a top notch one. And Minny has to do this deal or else

If you really cared for Minny you know the celts offer is ok but you could get something better. It depends where the team is headed and i doubt its towards a full rebuild.  They have enough young players and need to add vets/replace Love's production if not try to surpass

[Rondo9]

What makes you think that the Bulls offer is better? Convince us that the Bulls package can help the Wolves right now and the future.

[aingeforthree]

What makes you think that the Bulls offer is better? Convince us that the Bulls package can help the Wolves right now and the future.

I don't see how anybody can prove that the Bulls offer would be better.

The fact is if Ainge wants Love, he's got the ammunition to pull it off and can offer the best package of any team.  It's basically because he's got a war chest of first round picks and the majority are all unprotected.

[hpantazo]

There really is not much of a legitimate debate that out of the few teams that Love would reasonably consider extending with, Boston can offer the most in a trade. The other teams don't have the assets to outbid Boston. The only question is, did they actually put a great offer on the table or is Danny lowballing them and wrangling with them?

[Eja117]

I think this game of Chess is starting to heat up. Why? Well...

*Love has visited Boston (with his agent). Something triggered this- probably his agent as a powerplay to show the Wolves they'll drag them through the mud if they don't get moving- and that Boston is the team he wants to go to.

*The Wolves have now said that the Celtics package 'isn't as enticing as other offers'.
In other words, the Wolves want more. Standard negotiation tactic to feed Jackie McMullan this information from both sides so it gets into the public as they try to increase their own gain (as a trade actually happening gets closer).
We know Danny's a complete tight-ass with his assets. So if an offer has been made or thrown out there, it's been a real low ball as he tries to use Love's visit as leverage to feel Flip Saunders out.
The Wolves have also used the owner excuse as if the Wolves owner Taylor is somehow worried about the negative effect the last big trade the two franchises made, had on his team.
More leveraging on their part.


*Today we've gotten the news that Danny is looking to potentially move up the draft with our assets as a way of keeping his options open.

* The same 'sources' have suggested that he's been getting calls from other teams to move up and trade for our pick and the Celtics are preparing in case they end up having to draft now and explore trades after draft night.

*The pressure is being ramped up, with the Wolves spitting out the 'not good enough' outcry and Danny counter punching by 'exploring ways to move up in the draft' ( a way of saying our assets are good enough to make a trade for a top 3 pick in this draft but the Wolves dare to suggest that what Danny's offering for Love isn't fair enough for Love).

*Draft night is 20 days away and if the Wolves want to pick their own guy, something must be done sooner than later. Danny also doesn't want to lose the value of the 'fantasy' surrounding the #6 pick. Sure it's not a top 3 pick, but there are still quite a few guys available that could be All Stars and if Minny likes the look of one, but can't manage to do the trade by draft night, then Danny loses a lot of muscle.

I believe Danny has the advantage ultimately because he's probably had some assurance that Love will re-sign in Boston and he isn't worried about fantasy scenario trades between Cleveland or Sacramento that the T Wolves have been shouting about.

Now is Danny's time to shine.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2085692-why-minnesota-timberwolves-should-trade-kevin-love-before-2014-nba-draft

TP. All makes sense. Good poker playing here.

[hpantazo]

What makes you think that the Bulls offer is better? Convince us that the Bulls package can help the Wolves right now and the future.

I don't see how anybody can prove that the Bulls offer would be better.

The fact is if Ainge wants Love, he's got the ammunition to pull it off and can offer the best package of any team.  It's basically because he's got a war chest of first round picks and the majority are all unprotected.

Yep, war chest of unprotected 1sts, from potentially crappy teams, valuable young prospects (Sullinger, Olynyk, Bradley in a sign and trade), and plenty of salary relief if that is also desired. We have a trade exception and Bass' expiring to offer.

[Tr1boy]

What makes you think that the Bulls offer is better? Convince us that the Bulls package can help the Wolves right now and the future.

6th pick, regardless of who it is, the player will require time
Sullinger - still might need another year to get his body to where it needs to be

If they go with the Bulls trade

Gibson, Butler = instant starters
Mirotic = likely could start

Lineup

Pekovic
Gibson
Mirotic
Butler
Rubio

Bench

Brewer
Dieng
Martin(if not traded)

Better defensive team vs just having Love.  Mirotic could be a real good one.  13th and bulls pick could be combined to get the 7th or 8th pick .  Draft one of Vonleh, Smart, Gordon. Playoffs is a possibility with this lineup

VS

Pekovic
Sullinger
? (6th pick)
? (6th pick)
Rubio

Bench

Martin
Dieng
Brewer

playoffs out of the question. Actually Pek and Rubio will prob have to be traded. Dreaded rebuild starts again

Bulls trade is better. Still a young lineup, guys who have playoffs experience, better team defense and a real hot looking prospect in mirotic

[crownontherocks]

Yo @kevinlove I'm sitting in Minnesota right now and all I can think is one thing..This place absolutely sucks & u should prob leave

Crew ainge


Danny is not going to like this

[fairweatherfan]

I agree with the OP.  Rumors are often totally meaningless but when a number of media guys are getting fed information on a potential deal and front office guys are openly talking about it (ESPECIALLY in a negative way that still implies it could happen), it's a lot of smoke for there to be no fire.

...still doesn't mean we'll get him, or that it's a good move if we do, but it sounds like we're a frontrunner.  Of course, Love better pray he winds up here now or CB posters will never forgive him for teasing us with that visit 

[BballTim]

If the Wolves hold on to Love, he'll bolt and they won't get value for him. It's better to deal him now, and leave the drama behind.

Yeah but he is under contract for next season. Wolves have until feb 2015 to trade him

  That means that there's a huge distraction for the team for all that time, and it won't help them get a good return. If we (for example) offer Minny our draft pick this year it's 6th. If we offer them our 2015 first rounder it's basically wherever we end up in the standings when the season ends, and the team's play would be bolstered by 2 months of Love on the team.

please Tim stop making the potential Celtics offer be a top notch one. And Minny has to do this deal or else

If you really cared for Minny you know the celts offer is ok but you could get something better. It depends where the team is headed and i doubt its towards a full rebuild.  They have enough young players and need to add vets/replace Love's production if not try to surpass

  It's time to step back from the ledge. Minny doesn't have to do our deal. That doesn't mean that they're burning up the phone lines desperate to do any deal they can with any team as long as it isn't Boston. I don't see why you're so upset that we might get a good player. And not only does Minny not have many *good* young players, they don't have many young players at all. They have 3 guys on their roster that are under 25. Three. You're just arguing for the sake of arguing at this point.

[BballTim]

What makes you think that the Bulls offer is better? Convince us that the Bulls package can help the Wolves right now and the future.

6th pick, regardless of who it is, the player will require time
Sullinger - still might need another year to get his body to where it needs to be

If they go with the Bulls trade

Gibson, Butler = instant starters
Mirotic = likely could start

Lineup

Pekovic
Gibson
Mirotic
Butler
Rubio

Bench

Brewer
Dieng
Martin(if not traded)

Better defensive team vs just having Love.  Mirotic could be a real good one.  13th and bulls pick could be combined to get the 7th or 8th pick .  Draft one of Vonleh, Smart, Gordon. Playoffs is a possibility with this lineup

VS

Pekovic
Sullinger
? (6th pick)
? (6th pick)
Rubio

Bench

Martin
Dieng
Brewer

playoffs out of the question. Actually Pek and Rubio will prob have to be traded. Dreaded rebuild starts again

Bulls trade is better. Still a young lineup, guys who have playoffs experience, better team defense and a real hot looking prospect in mirotic

  A "hot prospect" that's never played a game in the nba and some average(ish) players, not a star among them. If that was my team's roster that they passed up draft picks to assemble I'd probably puke.

[KGs Knee]

An offer of Mirotic, Butler and 2 picks (plus salary filler) may be a more palatable offer to Minny. Depends on how you feel about Mirotic.  Doesn't mean Chicago will give such an offer.

Boston has competition, but that is fine. If Ainge gets Love for. Reasonable price, great. If not, there are other avenues to explore. Love would be an excellent player to get though.