How realistic is it for the Rockets to put together a compelling package for Kevin Love?

He's just a name. He can score and rebound but is a terrible defender which is the last thing the rockets need. They already have 1 awful defender (Harden) and 2 mediocre defenders (Lin/Parsons). I dont like the idea of trading our 2nd best rim protector (Jones) who has also showed great potential at a very young age for a name. Rockets score enough points, they need defenders who can shoot

 

We need rebounders who can spread the floor. And Love is the best at that (he is the best rebounder in the NBA).
Maybe Love is not the best defender (he clearly isn't). but if we have Harden, Love and Howard we can just get 2 great defensive players on the other positions (we are already using beverly as PG so not sure why you mention Lin, but not beverly).

 

Going after the most expensive stretch 4 is not a smart idea when its not even really a pressing need. Rockets starting 6 have played well basically all season. The Rockets need to shore up their bench. I would get rid of Casspi who is awful, and probably Garcia. They need some sharpshooters who know their role and they need either Smith or Asik to actually play this season. Rockets could get P.Pat back and he would be just as effective as Love and we wouldnt have to trade half the team. The rockets have enough talent, i mean they are 6 gms from having the best record in the league and theyve never had a healthy team all season. Plus T Jones is really really talented, dude is a top 5 pick talent who only dropped cause he stayed in school to help win a title and scouts picked apart his game. Love plays offense, thats great but Jones plays offense and defense...he's the more valuable player in the long run...

 

If there's one "bad defender" that would actually improve our defense, it's Love. The Rockets are one of the best in the NBA at denying the first shot. Opponents have horrible FG% against us. The problem is that no one could rebound when Howard goes out to challenge shots. Love would be perfect for that role.

 

He wouldnt be joining this team, half the team would be gone in order to even get him. And lets be honest Minnesota is not going to trade him to a western conference team. Now if you guys want to be realistic the Rockets do need players like Corey Brewer or Kyle Korver or Spencer Hawes

 

Y'all are ridiculous. Kevin Love is a legit top 5 player in the league and if the Rockets could trade anyone on the roster for him you do it. I'd trade Harden or Howard (but not both) for him in a millisecond.

There is not a combination of PF-C in the league I can think of that would be better than Love-Howard in the last five years, both in terms of talent and fit. Conversely, Harden with Love and a non-pouty Asik would be a championship level team. Not only is Love the best shooting big man we've seen since Dirk, he's also the league's best rebounder and one of the best passing big men, especially outlet passes. Can you imagine how many cheap points we can get with his rebounding and outlet passing with the speed of our guards?

Love is not a great defender, but y'all make it out like he's the Harden of big men on defense. He's at least average. He plays position well and switches decently, he just is not a rim protector. Paired with Dwight or Asik, I don't see this being a problem.

 

Love is a great player but to act as if he somehow has it harder than what Harden had it last season is crazy. One of the reasons why that team last season worked was because Harden made it work. That Rockets team last season was full of unproven players. I think Chandler had the most starts on the team last season. The Rockets really had no idea who the PF was going to be going into the season. Most people on this board think Kevin McHale is a not on the same level as a coach to Rick Adelman so theres that.

Kevin Love is a terrific player and may be the best PF in the game but lets not act like he is somehow hands down better than James. James DID get a team into the play-offs last season WITH tons of questions, lack of experience and tons of youth.

How much better would the Rockets had been last season if they had a PF that played his position as good as Kevin Martin plays the SG position?

 

Whatever happens with Terrence Jones & D-Mo over the next 12 months will dictate how competitive the Rockets trade package is for Kevin Love (assuming he gets moved at the Feb 2015 deadline which is the last chance they will have to move him before they lose him in free agency that Summer.)

If the stock continues to rise with those two, they could be looking at moving

-Expiring contract of one of Lin or Asik
-Jones and/or D-Mo (assuming they have gained stock as up and coming talents)
-multiple first round picks (will be valued at late 1st rounders)
-multiple 2nd round picks
-potential draft rights to European players


So really the deal would hinge on the market value for a young and talented replacement/s for Kevin Love in Jones, a large expiring contract/s, and sweeteners in draft picks.

Yes the Rockets have a very VERY competitive trade package to offer if the Rockets have highly marketable young talent in the trade. If they are just banking on draft picks, and expiring contracts of Lin/Asik, they might have trouble competing with what other teams can offer.

...................................................................................................

The Competition for Love-

LA Lakers- Expiring Contract of Steve Nash, whoever they draft this Summer (could be top 5 pick), - Package value hinges on who they get in this years draft and how the T-Wolves perceive that player.

Brooklyn Nets- Expiring Contract of Kevin Garnett (pretty weak package without picks)

Phoenix Suns- Could have major assets with up to 4 players drafted this Summer + 2015 Lakers pick + Expiring contract of Frye and more. (Look out for these guys to really push for Love ASAP as their package value is at its peak this Summer RIGHT BEFORE the draft). - Damn good package and the team to keep an eye on going into this Summer. Will be VERY active in trades leading up to the draft.

-Celtics- Expiring contracts (Bass Anthony), young talent in Bradley & Sullinger, and a buttload of 1st & 2nd round draft picks. Damn good package even leaving out Rondo.

................................................................................................

So do the Rockets have a shot at competing with these other teams' packages???.... Yes but alot of that competition is going to be trumped by two factors-

-How good, and how much does Flip Saunders like Terrence Jones

and

-Does Kevin Love push hard for Houston as his #1 destination, or does he try and push his way to a team that has the leverage to sign him as an UFA the next Summer (note the Rockets DONT have that leverage).

 

I expect that if Omer gets traded he will become "ready to go" and will start the first game for his new team.

 

Chicago does have a better pick than the Rockets. Mirotic is worthy of a top 10 pick. The Charlotte pick is being over rated due to the protections it has.

Honestly, Parsons and Jones > Bulls pick, Charlotte pick and Mirotic. Further, the Bulls would have to move Gibson to get the cap space to absorb Love. That doesn't even take into consideration the Rockets throwing in picks that Chicago is not likely to include.

Really it is a war of attrition, and the question is HOW much would the Bulls reasonably give up. They are a conservative organization. I don't think they would include Noah. Also, if you are Love, are you impressed by being on a team with Noah and Rose (that will have essentially missed 30 months).

 

Half the team doesn't matter if that half doesn't include Parsons, Harden, or Howard. The NBA is inherently very unfair in that way.

As for whether or not Minnesota will trade him, that depends on Love and not the team. If Love is bolting, they're trading him whether they want to or not.

 

Phoenix, Cleveland, Orlando could all have a mix of draft picks and good young players that would beat our package.

Phoenix or Cleveland could be the biggest threat.

 

==Remember that great playoff performance Love had in.....oh yea thats right...you're nba2k14 fantasy league doesnt count

 

It starts with Asik/Lin moving to a 3rd and 4th team. Then you have to add Jones and picks, 2nds and 1sts (rockets own 2nd rounder would be 55-60 range, trash picks) you skip the 2014, give them 2015/2017. No matter what, Asik AND Lin must go to match salaries, sorry 2012/2013 fans.

Parsons has to stay, and Les would GLADLY pay him the 10-11/y he wants and deserves on top of Harden/Howard/Love.

Just remember, he is a matador on D, but either he is wide open for deadeye 3, or Dwight is single covered.

 

#1 Putting together a bench is a whole lot easier than adding a top 10 talent like Kevin Love. Morey can add bench pieces. The Rockets draft very well late in the draft and their scouts are excellent at finding underappreciated players that slip through the cracks.
#2 Jones is not likely to be more valuable than Love long term. For one, it is very unlikely that Jones will ever even get remotely close to 25/13. Second, while Jones is a talented defensive player and at times is a real plus on the floor, he still makes many defensive mistakes, doesn't rotate properly and doesn't always follow the game plan. Jones has the makings of a 15/10/2 PF, which is good but that isn't Kevin Love.

 

No way in hell Love agrees to sign an extension with Cleveland or Orlando. Phoenix is possible, but it depends on how highly he views their supporting cast.

 

huehuehuehuehue

 

The more I research Love, the more I think he's worth parting with Parsons over.

Elite rebounder? Check
Elite free throw generator and shooter? Check
Elite 3 point shooter? Check
Elite outlet passer? Check

I think his defensive issues are overstated. Love plays with one of the worst defensive centers in the league. He's a decent one on one post defender, and he knows his rotations (which is more than I can say about TJones and DMo).

Let's say you trade Asik for a pick, and then send the pick, TJones, Parsons, and our own picks to the Wolves for Love. Then you use your MLE to sign a 3 & D type SF like Ariza. From a cap and competitive standpoint, I think you are in a better position with Love and Ariza.

 

He'll just be parked in the corner waiting for a 3 with us anyway. Now if he played elite defense on the other side of the floor, then I can live with it, but he's pretty bad there, too.

Do not want.

 

So many ppl are so clueless on here... IF and when the opportunity presents its self... The offers will not include Parsons,Harden, or Dwight Howard in there.

Jones will headline the deal as the young talent..... and it would be a combo on draft picks and the rest of the players.

Minny will have 0 leverage, since Love can walk, and will walk anyways if not traded before he can opt out. They will be looking at offers and will chose the best one available to them, and I think the Rockets can give them just about a good trade package for Love like any team in the NBA......