2014 NBA Draft Rumors: Buy or Sell

Rumor: The Celtics are the most likely suitor for Kevin Love.

As NBA fans know, it is widely expected that Love will leave the Minnesota Timberwolves after the 2014-15 season. That does not seem like it will happen with many teams calling in Timberwolves President/Coach Flip Saunders for the former UCLA forward’s services.

The Boston Celtics for months now have been reported as the most likely suitor due to the array of first round picks that they own from the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce tradde last off-season. That will set them up well because according to Chad Ford of ESPN, the Celtics could have the best offer on the table.

"I continue to get strong signals that the Celtics are trying hard to use pick No. 6 and 17 along with future No. 1s and young players such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to persuade the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade them Kevin Love. One source close to the Wolves said that while Flip Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he’s going to get. Given the strength of the draft, picks 6, 13 and 17 could land them three young starters to help them rebuild their roster quickly."

Getting the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, Sullinger or Olynyk, and 1-2 future first round picks would be a haul that could set this team up for the future well. Other reported teams like the Lakers and Kings cannot really do this, as the Lakers are missing picks from the Steve Nash trade and the Kings do not have the extra future first round picks like the Celtics have.

In reality, the Celtics may be the only real suitor for Kevin Love if a trade happens during the draft on June 26th. It will just depend on if Flip Saunders will pull the trigger.

Buy or Sell? – Buy