Dec 16, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger (7) looks for an opening around Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) during the fourth quarter of Boston
NBA Rumors
While attending a Red Sox game and partying with Rob Gronkowski is what I assume everyone in Boston does on a regular weekend, I guess it’s pretty big news when the NBA’s most coveted player does those things in a city whose team and front office are working tirelessly to find the perfect trade offer for him.
I’m sure you heard, over the weekend, Minnesota Timberwolves’ star forward Kevin Love took a trip to Boston, the home of the NBA’s most storied NBA franchise. It’s easy to get caught up in the hoopla and speculate on what it actually means, so I’m going stay away from that and focus on a different aspect of the whole situation that is exactly what I’m going to do!
The deal is done. Love is going to Boston, and it’ll happen before the draft on June 26.
I’m sure Minnesota fans don’t want to hear the added noise to all the other rumors surrounding the Love sweepstakes. But, Love has the upper hand in this relationship, and has ever since David Kahn gave him that garbage contract extension in 2012. By taking a trip to Boston this weekend, Love made it loud and clear that he doesn’t want to be in Minnesota any longer. He’s already got both feet out the door and, literally, in a new city. It was a huge leverage move by Love.
Technically speaking, Saunders could send Love to any team he wants. But, realistically, no team is going to offer their best trade pieces without a long-term commitment from Love. No one wants to be “Howard’d” like the Lakers were last summer. News reports surfaced this week that Love would prefer Golden State over Houston, but at this point, it doesn’t even matter. Love is going to Boston.
Boston is the perfect landing spot for Love. The city, the fans, the history. Put it all together and it’s an athlete’s dream scenario. By putting on the uniform for the first time, Love becomes a part of an exclusive list of star players who’ve donned the Celtics’ green and white. And, if Love would be fortunate enough to lead Boston to a championship, then he goes down in Celtics’ lore forever. That’s a dream come true for any player.
Speaking of dreams coming true, I can only imagine what it was like when Bill Simmons got the phone call, alerting him to Love’s presence in Boston. It had to go a little something like this:
*Phone rings*
Bill Simmons: Bill Simmons, Boston Superfan, here.
Person on phone: Did you see the news?
BS: I am the news!
P.O.P: No, Bill, listen Kev Love is in Boston. He’s at a Red Sox game, shaking hands with Rondo, partying with Gronk. HE’S GOING TO BE A CELTIC!
BS: …
*Bill Simmons has a heart attack*
The only thing holding this trade back is what Boston can offer Minnesota and if it is enough for Saunders to pull the trigger on the deal. Love is gone. His silence this offseason through all the speculation and talk of him leaving is proof enough that he doesn’t intend to stay. Then, he goes to Boston, one of the cities gunning for him, basically for an “unofficial recruiting visit,” and just happens to go to a Red Sox game, meet Rondo, party with Gronk, and hang out at a random Boston sports bar, unannounced. Sorry, Minnesota, he’s gone.
Now, we’re at the point where Minnesota has to decide what they want for him. If Saunders wants to make this season a living hell for Love and the rest of the team, he’ll keep Love until the bitter end. Minnesota will try to make one last run to make the playoffs with Love, and then he’ll walk at the end of the season, regardless. That’s Love’s nightmare.
Saunders’ other option is to start fielding trade offers for Love, figure out where Love wants to go and send him off before the draft. It’s really the only feasible option because Minnesota needs Boston’s high draft pick in this loaded draft to come through for them. It’s risky if Minnesota lets Boston choose the sixth pick and then trades Love after the draft. In that scenario, Minnesota may not get the player they need or even want. If he’s smart, Saunders will trade Love before the draft and hope for the Nuggets-style turn around after they traded Carmelo Anthony.
Here’s what Boston can offer Minnesota before the draft:
-Sixth pick in a loaded draft
-Jeff Green
-Jared Sullinger
-Brandon Bass
-Future draft picks/considerations
To make the trade work financially and make it more desirable for Minnesota, Boston would have to take on Chase Budinger and his horrible contract. That should be enough for Minnesota and Saunders to send Love away. Boston has nine first-round picks in the next five seasons. They can get creative with this trade like other teams can’t.
But, is it the best deal Minnesota could get for Love?
As of right now, Golden State, Houston, and Los Angeles are the only other teams who have a real chance to trade for Love. Golden State could send Klay Thompson and David Lee, but the picks Golden State could give are much less valuable than the picks Boston has. Houston could send Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, but again, Houston doesn’t have the draft picks Boston has. The Lakers have no trade assets and less valuable picks than Boston. Basically, this trade comes down to draft picks. Boston has the most valuable picks to offer for Love.
I’d also throw Chicago and Phoenix into the mix because they have a lot to offer for Love. However, Love isn’t going to sign an extension in Phoenix, so they’re automatically out. As for Chicago, they’re still one of the front-runners for signing Carmelo Anthony this summer. If Melo is still a possibility, I don’t see the Bulls’ frugal front office wasting players and picks on Love.
Minnesota isn’t going to get a star for Kevin Love. It’s just not going to happen. With a starting lineup of Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Green, Sullinger, and Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota is going to have a chance to compete right away. Add in their two lottery picks, Gorgui Dieng, and the other role players and Minnesota isn’t that bad of a team. Look at it this way, Wolves fans, your team is in a much better place than it was with Love on the team during his first five years in the league. Those teams were seriously bad, like that show Dads on FOX. Thank god that show was cancelled.
With Green, Sullinger, Bass, and two lottery picks, at least you have pieces to build around and make a run at the playoffs in the next few seasons.
The deal is done. Love’s a Celtic. You can book it.