<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Can confirm the Kings have made calls about Kevin Love. Won't trade Cousins to get him, but anyone else is fair game.</p>— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/statuses/474296090015977472">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>That the Kings would take on Love w/o an extension is a big factor, still no deal imminent.</p>— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/statuses/474296237915525120">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kings believe they have to be aggressive/gamble in these situations, can't wait around for young talent if they can land a star.</p>— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/statuses/474296383730487296">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A frontcourt of Cousins-Love would be good, and the Kings have been way too bad for way too long and need to give their fans something (especially after they just built a new stadium). But it's going to be touch to match salaries - at least if Minnesota doesn't want Rudy Gay.
Here's my take: The Kings can offer the 8th pick and Ben McLenmore. The catch for them? Minnesota would either have to take Gay's contract back or take a guy like Jason Thompson or Carl Landry. Contract/players you don't in a rebuild. The best package they could offer, IMO, is McLenmore, Gay, and the 8th pick for Kevin Martin or Chase Budinger and Kevin Love. The Celtics, I think, have the most attractive package since they have young guys (Sullinger, Olynyk etc.), the 6th pick, and all of those Nets picks to send. The big question is how much they're willing to give up. Frankly, I don't see how we beat either offer considering our pick is low and our two biggest contracts are Asik and Lin (both of which would be useless for the Timberwolves). Because of this, I don't think we get Love. Which leaves us with two scenarios: 1) Love signs with the Kings and doesn't extend. In which case we wait until the deadline and, if we're still interested, we try to clear salary (including Parsons) to sign him in the offseason like we did with Howard, 2) Love ends up with the Celtics and re-signs there. However, I actually like this for us because having Love makes Boston a prime spot for Asik. The Celtics are in the East and have a lot to offer. We could easily trade Asik to them to clear space for Melo (if we were so inclined). Or maybe even make a move for Bass, Jeff Green, Bradley etc. if a three team trade emerges.
If Kevin Love's #1 goal is to win, not sure Boston or Sacramento would be better destinations then he is already in. I think he'll end up playing out the current season, and by some miracle staying with the Wolves or sign with a contender.
Love's hardly as good as prime Kevin Garnett was though. I wouldn't even peg them as a .500 team with Love without seeing if/how Rondo recovers from this year.
Kevin Love's goal in life is only a secondary matter right now. It has an impact on the market but it doesn't fully determine where he goes. Kevin Love's goal in life is pretty much dverything next season, when he becomes an actual unrestricted free agent. But not yet.
You don't need to convince me, it's Love's opinion that matters. Not sure he'd agree with your assessment.
Well heck if I knew what Kevin Love was thinking I'd write for sports "media" instead of posting on clutchfans, since they all do.
lol, my point is that I agree with you to an extent, but it's a real possibility that Love can be sold on putting his faith in Ainge in a great market with a running mate like Rondo
Do not want Love. Dont want another FA drama for next summer (he would come with no extension). I want defense, I want heart, some bad blood, someone who wants to stay here. I want Kyle Lowry.
Love is a smokescreen. We're going after Melo people. Trading for Love would handicap our team. Signing Melo in free agency, or pressuring Knicks for a sign and trade where they have virtually no leverage is the way to go.
Even if we trade asik/lin for nothing and let go of everyone else, signing melo would have us paying 60 million for three players. Its hard to build a team around that kind of cap.
I think this is where Morey would really shine given how our draft picks usually turn into the kind of decent role players that have gotten Miami over the hump in the past.
I agree. Thats what he was originally brought into do. A core of Melo-Harden-Howard-Parsons with some ring chasing vets and "diamonds in the rough" would be formidable. Especially once Duncan retires/as the Heat age.
Contracts signed under old CBA. Their total salary is almost $81 mil and their 4th highest salary is Haslem @ $4.3 mil. Our 4th highest could be $10 mil or more depending on what Parsons gets. Not much money for the rest of team. Obviously if the "3rd star" plan works out our total salary could approach $80 mil, but the top 4 guys will probably have a higher percent of that $80 mil than the top 4 guys on Miami.
