Considering Dieng's rise, what if we were to get a legit center back from the whole deal? What if we can help sweeten the pot for MIN to make the deal smoother and get something back ourselves? As much as it would be horrible for Love to go to the Cavs, we could at least get something for it rather than sit idle by and do nothing.
BOS out: Anthony, Bass, Bogans, Olynyk
BOS in: Pekovic, Thompson
CLE out: Thompson, Waiters, Wiggins
CLE in: Love
MIN out: Pekovic, Love
MIN in: Wiggins, Bass, Bogans, Waiters, Olynyk, Anthony
Why MIN:
Cap space and lots of young potential. If trading Love away, why not allow Dieng to be the starting Center at a fraction of the price since he's now showing some brilliance? I'm pretty sure they're not going to build around Pek with Love gone. They can choose to start Olynyk or Bass at PF. On top of that, they get Wiggins and Waiters. With Bogan's contract to be waived, Bass and Anthony expiring, they have lots of space to work with next offseason.
Why CLE:
Love.
Why BOS:
Although not a rim protector, Pek is a big 6'11'' 285 lb hard-nosed bruiser of a legit C that has a great offensive game averaging 17.7p last year. He averages in the high 8's for REB's in the last two years. Both stats are pretty good considering he had Love right beside him (Sully would be the equivalent type in this case). We also get Thompson, a decent scorer and rebounder who would replace Bass/Olynyk, who is also an expiring contract.
Depth Chart:
Rondo / Smart / Pressey
Bradley / Thornton / Young / Johnson (waive?) / Babb (waive?)
Green / Wallace
Sully / Thompson
Pekovic / Zeller / Faverani
By next year, if we want to say that no free agents like signing here, I think our trade pieces would be better by deadline and next trade deadline or offseason with the team as I've stated. If Marc Gasol doesn't want to re-up with Memphis, a Gasol for Pek trade could be something either at the deadline or S+T. Thornton and Thompson are expiring. Rondo's is too, but we may want to re-up with him if he doesn't get traded and he comes into his own as a leader this year.
What do you guys think?