[NBC Sports] Kevin Love's people inform Wolves that he will leave as a Free Agent if not traded.

Hate to nitpick, specially when it comes to elite talent like Love, but I really think people overrate his impact when it comes to winning games. I don´t hold Minny terrible records against him, I am of the opinion that no one can single handedly make a team good, I just don´t like the little things he doesn´t do.

People will talk about rebs if you bring up the fact that he only plays offense, but fact is, he is terrible on D. And once again, there are guys like Scola that you see, that they simply can´t be better on D, Love is exactly like Harden, you can see that he can be better, but he just chooses not to. People will still make excuses about how much he has to carry on offense, and then they bash D12 on offense, when the man is guarding 5 guys because we just let everyone pass by.

There is no excuse to be so good on one side of the ball, and so bad on the other except physically not being able to (too weak/small/slow).

The great thing about him is his age, being able to have a bigger championship window, but the fact that he always gets injured and the things above worry me. I know I am in the minority, but if I had to rank best off season options:

1a. Rondo/Lowry and Millsap (I think it is possible to get a combination of these guys)
1b. Melo
2. Love

 

The only reason McFail is still here is because of his relationship with Kevin Love.

 

Honestly is rubio available too? I wanna get rubio. Hes better fit with this team

 

People don't understand the menage a trois going on between the Houston-Minny-Boston axis right now, as far as favored trading partners go.

 

Love is 25. He doesn't care if he wins a title this year. Would be funny if he got traded here - won a title - and then left anyway.

 

Sorry to bust your bubble guys but if Houston isn't first on the list and he's not forcing his way to Houston, their trade package will not compete with what other teams can offer.

-The Lakers will have the 6th pick in this years draft unless they win the lottery, and cap space to absorb Love's salary after July 1st.
-Boston has the 5th pick in this years draft and Jeff Green & Sullinger (assuming they are keeping Rondo if acquiring Love), and the Nets picks.
-The Suns have about a million 1st rounders to give

.....

The Rockets have Asik (when they already have a highly paid Pekovic), Parsons (who is a role player due for a major pay increase), Jones (who might be the best asset in the deal actually), and some late 1st rounders.

None of that can really compete with a top 5 pick in this years draft.

 

This is probably as good as it gets for both sides. Give them a few picks too and seal the deal.

 

Didn't consider Boston. That would be a good destination for Love. He and Rondo are probably good enough to make the playoffs in the East if you team them with 7 other scrubs.

 

Whut? Boston with Love would be just as bad as Minnesota, and LA with him would be even worse. Phoenix with Love might be better than us, but why not just sign with us and be a top 4 team for years?

Any team willing to trade high 1st rounders for Love needs to keep in mind that we will have the cap space to sign him away from them. If you're LA, do you want to gamble that Love will want to play 2nd fiddle on Kobe's farewell tour during the prime of his career? After Dwight left, they surely can't assume that every free agent will automatically re-sign with them.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/SmoMikeMN">@SmoMikeMN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/canishoopus">@canishoopus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson">@DarrenWolfson</a> sorry, he's not staying</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/467862174749437952">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/twolvesfan">@twolvesfan</a> they may be getting past the point of that</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/467880087996465154">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/twolvesfan">@twolvesfan</a> I'd say 90 percent</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/467882474929131520">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RyanLezer">@RyanLezer</a> Lots of teams will be willing: Celtics have plenty of pieces and Rockets have the will to get something done</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/467887433531789312">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RyanLezer">@RyanLezer</a> don't believe that. he'd sign at a number of places</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/467888599393128448">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/jjshooter54">@jjshooter54</a> they don't have much to give other their pick, they'd be well back in the sweepstakes l, I'd think</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/468037643264352256">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson">@DarrenWolfson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MnSportsNation">@MnSportsNation</a> they're going to have to trade him, it's just going to be a question of when and how much sooner is better</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/468041791518699521">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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So it begins...

 

If Minny trades Love they'll try to make Rubio "The Guy", I don't see why they'd dump both of them unless they want kill whatever's left of their fanbase.

 

If we can't work a deal for Love, I could see us moving Asik & Jones to ATL for Millsap as a 1 year rental, then signing Love next off-season. We have options.

 

I personally see no chance the Lakers give up their 1st this year for Love. They are going after him in FA and not via trade given how barren their assets are.

As for other teams, it's not so much what they can offer Minnesota in a vacuum, but rather whether the resulting team will be able to keep Love. Suppose like you say Boston trade Green+their own 1st rounder+Sullinger. They'd be left with Rondo/Love/Bass/Bradley/MLE and low 1sts this and next year. Do you believe that team will succeed enough that Love wouldn't bolt to another place like Houston that can offer Howard/Love/Harden/Parsons/Beverley/TJones instead?

The limiting factor in any Love trade isn't the assets possessed by teams, but rather what teams feel their odds are of Love re-signing. In that, Houston is one of the few teams that's super confident in such ability.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/joekulas12">@joekulas12</a> i doubt he goes to the Lakers</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/468047833715965952">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/joekulas12">@joekulas12</a> not sure he's sold on post-Jerry Buss leadership there, plus teams like Celtics-Bulls-Rockets all have more to offer</p>&mdash; Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryZgoda/statuses/468048552954847235">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More on Love: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine">@ESPNSteinLine</a> has the Bulls &amp; Warriors as intriguing to him. Can add other winners like SAS. He's not stuck on big city.</p>&mdash; Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/statuses/468054524934905857">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ion-likes-chicago-bulls-golden-state-warriors

 

Of course he's 25. That's my point...bigger window for us. He and Harden can grow together.
Any NBA player worth his sack wants to win a title. You think he just became complacent in Minny and lost his drive? ...and again, wherever he goes, part of the deal will be an extension.

 

Don't think he comes here. I think he wants to be the"man" on his team in a larger market

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ESPN sources say Warriors &amp; Bulls are trade destinations that intrigue Kevin Love. Love latest w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne">@ramonashelburne</a> - <a href="http://t.co/O590KmrigM">http://t.co/O590KmrigM</a></p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/468052152816914432">May 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I think I'd rather have Melo.

But Love would be 2nd on my list and then Rondo.

Melo - CAN play PF, and he'd give pure hell to guys we have problems with like Durant. Durant doesn't get to chill on defense any more, he'd have to guard this scoring machine...and there is NOT a more versatile scorer in the NBA. From 3...from mid range...from the block...he scores all over the court.

Love - He fits in more with what the Rockets like to do...stretches the floor, can score at the basket...great passer. His rebounding is terrific as well. I just concerned about his will. He's in that Harden category where he doesn't always want to impose his will on the game. NOW we don't know how he performs in the playoffs, some guys turn it up for the post-season...like Dwight. Dwight didn't go out there and impose his will for a lot of the regular season, but playoffs came and he looked like a completely different player and unfortunately so did Harden. Although Harden has playoff moments, we need another guy that is looking to impose his will in the playoffs, that why Melo > Love

Rondo - Rondo does impose his will in the playoffs, he's a guy that turns it up during the post season. So much so that he often puts up insane numbers and on top of that somehow learns to shoot during the post-season. My biggest concern is the fit, will these guys (Dwight and Harden) be cool with a guy that might throw hands at you for losing a tough game?

I guess personality wise Love would be the best fit but I think Melo would be a terrific fit. Any three of the guys you get you have to ask "How much will they share between each other?" that's always a problem with 3 superstar teams, so that's why I wouldn't consider the whole "Melo and Harden can't be on the same team." truth is Love and Rondo will also want the ball a lot. Thats why they are all-star players.

Either way Harden has played with one of the most ball dominant guards in the NBA in Westbrook and didn't seem to have any issues playing with him.