That's true, but I think perhaps we may be "overvaluing" his desire for immediate contention. In the east, a Rondo/Love combo might be good enough to get them in the top 4 seeds. Since Love has never been in the playoffs, he might see that as significant progress, at least on a personal level. If Love to Boston happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see us trade Asik for what remains of their picks and Bass. Boston would be desperate for a defensive center at that point. This gives you plenty of assets to go after Aldridge at the trade deadline.
This is important. Maybe Saunders or other GMs out there don't agree... but I think most do at this point. Non-lotto picks are such a crapshoot. Even late lotto picks can be a crapshoot. They aren't worthless, but I wouldn't think hold a ton of value. I'd discount any pick further out than next draft - Minnesota and their fan base aren't waiting until 2018 to see if something might be useful. I'd discount any near-term picks of the Nets and Clippers. Never know with the Nets, but they got better as the season went on. I'd discount the Celtics picks other than this years. They are supposed to get better by acquiring Love (if acquired) and having Rondo fully healthy. That's not to say the Celtics still aren't in a great position. Because they can offer the #6 and #17 this year, some of their younger players (though nothing exciting there), and for the same reason they aren't that valuable, they can just start throwing picks the TWolves way - might as well take them. But those throw-ins are just throw-ins, and the young players won't be that great. Which means, the Rockets do have a shot... but that shot revolves around finding that lotto pick this year. The Lakers aren't likely to trade the #7 pick for JLin and Asik... but you never know. If you can find something like that. Say: The Lakers probably get the short-stick here. They need something else. If they got the TWolves #13 this year, they'd probably do it, but I doubt the TWolves do that. Maybe TJones to the Lakers. But if the Lakers could be satisfied, this seems a better deal than a Celtics offer. Because Parsons is near-all star young player they could really just plug righ tin next to Rubio. I'd also target the Bobcats. They have no use for the #9 pick. They need Asik to plug next to Jefferson. Would make them that dominant defense, half-court Eastern Conference team... ala the Grizzlies East. Take back Biyombo and Haywood I'm not sure on salaries, etc. Again, you still have TJones to use if necessary.
Love just doesn't seem realistic at all to me (and no, Carl Herrerra, Harden is not being traded for him). Melo just seems much more likely, and if not him, then look for cheaper options.
Trading Harden seems to defeat the promise of acquiring that THIRD superstar. And while a starting 5 of Howard, Love, Brewer (he has to be part of the package), Parsons & Lin (first unit will need facilitator w/out Harden, so Bev is coming off the bench) may sound attractive on paper (at least more balanced in terms of offense & defense) is it really an improvement? If Houston has a chance to trade for Love, it is going to have to involve more teams (either as part of multiple team trade or trading players like Asik, Lin or Parsons for draft picks and package those picks for Love). But if Houston is serious about trading Harden, then why not go all out and go after Lebron - yes, Lebron! Harden, Asik, Parsons & future picks for Lebron makes more sense for Miami than Minny, Miami would actually find those players attractive. Lebron is best player in the world so may need a bit more but this trade actually makes more sense for both teams.
Woj: Latest with Kevin Love and Boston? I had reported 2 weeks ago the Celtics were very high on Kevin Love's potential landing spots. That was the purpose of his trip (with his agent/trainer). This wasn't a field trip. He wanted to take a very hard look at the city and also continue to send a message to Minnesota(one he delivered shortly after the season)--he wants a trade and if not before next season, he'll leave as a FA and they'll get nothing for him.
I hope this shoe drops sooner rather than later. So many teams out there think they have the assets needed to trade for Kevin Love so as long as he is out there, many other potential deals will be on hold.
Yeah....my point was about Love's desire to be on a contender next season...not Ainge's desire to contend next season. IF Love...or any superstar player....chooses Boston to go to without Boston having the ability to create a big 3 next season...then essentially Love (or whomever else) is choosing a long-term city, choosing the opportunity to get a 5-year contract for max money, and choosing to score a bucket load of points OVER contending for a championship if paired with 2 other superstars in Houston or possibly in Chicago. Love and his team know they can't win a championship next season in Boston. They know they've got a chance if he comes here.
What's really sad about Bucher is that even though he should have inside sources with the Warriors, he's still wrong a lot on really big stuff that he should have no business being wrong about. http://sulia.com/channel/basketball/f/7b8efd1e-83c9-4009-a411-fd51adb2630d/?source=twitter
1. #17 is the Nets pick for 2014. There's not another pick. Celts have #6 and #17 in this draft. 2. If Boston trades away both it's picks this year then it can't trade both it's pick and the Clippers pick away next year. And the Philly pick is lottery protected. So they can't trade it either. The best they can do is to offer Minnesota the highest pick they have available next season between their pick, the Clippers pick, and Philly's pick (if it even exists). The reason they can only offer one pick is because of that lottery protection on the Philly pick. That pick may not exist. So, if they offer Minny 2 picks in next year's draft and Philly goes to the lottery (most likely) then they would be trading away all their first round picks for 2 years in a row. So...they can't offer that. All they can offer for 2015 is the highest of their, Philly's, or Clippers pick. Now....that's at best a pick in the low teens. 3. They can then offer 2 picks in 2016, theirs and Brooklyns. (Most likely in the late teens to 20's, although an injury could make either or both of those picks lottery picks.) 4. They can only offer Minnesota the right to swap picks in 2017 if Minnesota finishes higher than Boston or Brooklyn. Boston owns a pick swap with Brooklyn in 2017. So, they've only got one pick. Here again, they can't trade the pick swap away and not have a pick if they trade both their 2016 picks away. So this is only the rights to swap picks...not an extra pick. 5. They can offer Minnesota their pick and Brooklyn's pick in 2018. So....the maximum offer Boston can make to Minnesota concerning FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS is.............. 2014 - #6, #17 2015 - the highest of Boston's, Philly's, Clippers first round picks. (#15 highest unless somehow Boston or Clippers collapse and don't make the playoffs) 2016 - Boston's and Brooklyn's first round picks unprotected 2017 - NO PICKS ... only the right to swap picks with Boston or Brooklyn 2018 - Boston's and Brooklyn's first round picks unprotected That's a total of 7 picks. #6 and #17 this year, plus future picks from Boston, Brooklyn, and the Clippers. Now some of those future picks are not lottery protected. They most likely won't be in the lottery but you never know. But it's a grand total of 7 picks that Boston could package up with Olynk, Sullinger, and Bass or Bogans.
Rarely do you see teams trade star for star. Especially if the star is only 24 years old and haven't seen max potential.
I think if he is traded in the next few weeks it will not be to us. I would be shocked if Kevin Love was a Rocket, for the first time in many years, our tradable assets are not comparable to the competition. We are depleted from clearing room for Howard and trading for Harden. I can't see Rocket Love happening this summer.
sorry man. nothing from any of those 3, but Love was in Boston yesterday with his agent checking out the city. seems like the celtics have a good shot at getting him. no other rumors aside from that - aside from Rich Bucher's 'sources' telling him he'd prefer the Warriors over the Rockets because of a big man down low, a pick and roll partner, and a perimeter player. Funny because Rockets have a better big man (Howard>Bogut) , and a better perimeter player (Harden>Thompson) Twolves gm Flip Saunders is saying he won't trade Love though, so there's that. I think the Rockets should shift their attention to Lowry, Melo, etc.
Is there a way we can do a sign and trade for Melo without giving up Asik? Like include Parsons and Lin but somehow keep our starting line-up with melo instead of Parsons and still have Asik off the bench? Too lazy to check the numbers but gonna assume its impossible. I think melo with harden and howard is our best chance at a title (i feel love is impossible to get for us). Having said that Id rather Asik off our bench than keeping Parsons. Chandler is great and all but would rather have more size than melo AND chandler
The problem (aside from financially) is parsons wants to be here and Asik doesn't. So Asik will be more likely traded between the two.
Saw hat report from Woj. Thanks J.R. for posting it. Really sounds like Love is trying to send a strong message to he Wolves. This really has the look of a draft night deal. Not optimistic the Rockets can get Love here. But if Love gets moved, at least it is done before FA period starts which allows the Rockets to shift their focus on someone else.
I've always figured he was heading to LA, so I never got my hopes up about him signing with the Rockets. Celtics? Sure, whatever. That tells me two things, 1. he really doesn't want to be Kobe's sidekick and 2. this is more about just getting out of Minny than it is about winning. Carmelo and Love together in Boston? I still don't think LeDiva has anything to worry about.
Serious question. Are most free agents this deliberate in sending their message that they want a trade? I know I was posting a few pics of Kevin being out and about in i3oston as I have a pulse on my hometown, but last weekend was ridiculous. The entire city was lying in wait. And Rondo talking to Kevin Love for "39" seconds is beyond laughable. "Oh, I just happened to bump into Kevin Love and said what's up." Sure, whatever you say. In reality the full court press was on by i3oston, and Gronk, Papi, and Rondo were in from the word go. Rumors of a BBQ hosted by TB & Co. Houston can't afford to have the golden boy whispering into K. Love's ear. Tom Brady can practically guarantee the man a model for a wife as he's done with Wes Welker and others before him. Somewhere Elise Novak faints...
Trade lin +25 to kings #8 the last time i remember sac town are dying to see jeremy lin play and they're not sold on thomas as their PG so maybe they would want lin to be their PG. And then trade asik tjones or even parsons +#8 to minny for kevin love. Next Trade james harden to cavs for kyrie+Varejao. And then sign lance CjMiles/stephenson and ariza/Cj Miles/or even Luol Deng and morrow. Roster: Irving/Beverley/Canaan stephenson\CjMiles/TroyDaniels Ariza\CjMiles\Deng/Morrow/Casspi Love/Dmo/Varejao howard/Varejao = CHampionship 3point shooters with defense
