Situation to watch: Minnesota T'Wolves

[gourimoko]

Wrong, actually.

The Stepien Rule says that a team cannot trade away #1 picks in two consecutive future drafts. It cannot leave itself in a position where it is without a #1 pick in consecutive drafts.

Your suggested trade could lead to a violation of that rule, and thus would not be allowed. Yes, the Cavs potentially have two other #1 picks in 2015 -- Memphis's and Miami's -- but both of those picks have protections (the Memphis pick is 1-5 and 16-30 protected; the Miami pick is top 10 protected). However unlikely it may seem, the Cavs could be in a position without a #1 pick. So the trade would not be permitted.

Miami's 2015 first is likely more valuable than a Cavaliers 2015 first where Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are on the same team... I think most GMs would think LeBron would be coming back to Cleveland given such a trade.

 

[ajz20]

Th earliest Minny would trade Love would be this summer. There was an article stating one of the reasons this may be a slow trade season is because many teams were saving their assets for Love being available in June. If the Cavs do nothing, it would be a small bright side in that they would still have a chance to put a package together. In general, the odds of seeing him in Cleveland are still low.

 

[STAT]

Th earliest Minny would trade Love would be this summer. There was an article stating one of the reasons this may be a slow trade season is because many teams were saving their assets for Love being available in June. If the Cavs do nothing, it would be a small bright side in that they would still have a chance to put a package together. In general, the odds of seeing him in Cleveland are still low.

I'm not entirely sure why that is. Wouldn't it seem like you could get more value for Love if you traded earlier? If you trade him now, you allow a team to get an extra 25 or so games and potentially his first playoff experience before a full off-season with him which seems to be an opportunity to win him over some and improve your chances to retain him long term. That's valuable and more incentive to give up more for him now rather then in June when you know all you'll get is one season.

 

[Ohio]

Interesting comments from Love about the Lakers.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Interesting comments from Love about the Lakers.

Which is what?

 

[Ohio]

Which is what?

Kevin Love could be one of the NBA's most-coveted free agents in the summer of 2015 and figures to draw interest from several high-profile teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

But in a recent interview, Love said he enjoys playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and compared his team favorably to the Lakers.

"People think it's so far-fetched that I would stay in Minnesota," Love told GQ. "And I'm not s------- on the Lakers, but we have the better team, the better foundation. I'm having fun."

The Lakers and Dallas Mavericks reportedly are attempting to complete trades this week for Love, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2014-15 season if he declines a player option on his contract with Minnesota.

Los Angeles entered Wednesday with an 18-35 record, tied for the worst mark in the Western Conference. But the Lakers could potentially create significant salary-cap space in time for the summer of 2015, as Kobe Bryant is the team's only high-profile player under contract beyond the 2014-15 season.

Love, who was born in Santa Monica, Calif., and played at UCLA, repeatedly has been linked to the Lakers. The three-time All-Star has emerged as one of the NBA's top forwards, averaging a double-double in each of the past five seasons.

The Timberwolves (25-28) are six games outside of a playoff spot and in danger of missing the postseason for the 10th consecutive season.

But the 25-year-old Love headlines a talented, young roster that also features 23-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio, 28-year-old center Nikola Pekovic and 27-year-old forward Corey Brewer. The 6-foot-10 Love is averaging 25.8 points and 13.2 rebounds this season, ranking in the top four in the NBA in each category.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...a-timberwolves-better-team-los-angeles-lakers

 

[jhard]

Peter Vecsey ‏@PeterVecsey1 13m
Wolves fans' nightmare has come true, earlier than scheduled. We knew Love'd split ASA eligible '14-15. But now he's forcing premature exit

Peter Vecsey ‏@PeterVecsey1 8m
Prior 2 AS break, KL alerted Flip he'll exercise summer '15 out & sign elsewhere. Expect him 2B moved B4 deadline or off season

Will make for a fun offseason.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Will make for a fun offseason.

I doubt he gets moved by tomorrow.

But I'll be he's plenty available on draft day. Minny could come away with players and a number of picks in the 2014 draft.

 

[jhard]

The ultimate smokescreen/curveball.

Flip Saunders ‏@Flip_Saunders 2m

Rumors of Love telling me he's opting out & wants 2 b traded r false. Last convo I had w/ him was him telling me how bad my sports coat was.

 

[Ruggeder]

If he keeps putting up 40/15 games I don't see how they can trade him and not have a lynch mob outside unless he publicly says I'm leaving.

 

[jhollandsworth]

Minnesota is either doing themselves a disservice by not moving Love now, have serious reasons to think he's going to stay, or aren't getting offers because teams are tentative to trade for Love without assurance he'll stick around past next year.

The Houston payed Kevin Martin (veteran SG), Jeremy Lamb (rookie 12th pick), the 2013 Toronto pick (12th in a bad draft class), a top 20-protected pick, and a high 2nd round pick for Harden. Harden was younger than Love and it was well-known that Harden would reup his contract for a max offer. I think Love is more valuable, but his contract status is going to limit the trade market and I'm not sure how they're going to get as good of an offer without Love extending as part of the deal.

The better comparison may be the Carmelo Anthony deal where Denver mostly got the 2014 Knicks pick (which should be good, but would be hard to project that in 2011 when the deal was done). Anthony severely limited the trade market by forcing his way to New York.