Around the League: May 2014

[Phoenix219]

The comment section of that article is just as interesting.... didn't know very much of that at all.

[Mori Chu]

Culburn/Cubby is probably smiling from ear to ear when reading that article. He always ragged on KJ for that little-girl charge situation. My big criticism of KJ in this Sterling business is that he's clearly angling to be given a role in the NBPA leadership. So as much as he may have a genuine interest in helping with Sterling, he's blatantly being a politician about it and looking out for his own interests foremost.

[carey]

Incorrect. His goals are much loftier than NBA leadership. He actually turned down the position. He's angling for Governor of CA. I'm sure of it.

[carey]

Some TImberwolves tid-bits: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--s ... 9-nba.html

First.

Sam Mitchell has emerged as a serious candidate for the franchise's head coaching job, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Second.

"For the first time, [Saunders] sounds like looking at deals for [Love] is an option," one rival executive told Yahoo Sports.

The Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are among many teams determined to make hard runs at trades for Love, league sources said. Boston and Los Angeles plan to make high-lottery picks in the 2014 NBA Draft available in offers for Love, sources said.

[Superbone]

Get 'er done.

[Ring_Wanted]

If Love is traded I guess the Wolves could choose to move the rest of their big contracts, develop the youth and rookies they may get and start over. I can't see how they'd be a ble to make the playoff just by retooling after Love. If rebuilding is the route they indeed go, whoever offers a top rookie they like is in a hell of a position, above all if such team also takes back salary in exchange for expirings.

Boston and Chicago are primed for such scenarios. LAL has just the rights to their pick and nothing else. The Warriors make sense only if the Wolves want to keep 'competing' with what they may have left plus a package around Lee-Klay-Barnes.

Then there is the Suns, who can offer a ton of assets but probably nothing premium. I've been thinking for some time now that our options are not great in trade scenarios, unless the player specifically demanded to be moved here.

If Ainge offers his top pick plus some of the extra choices they have from Brooklyn and LAC plus their own, along with expirings like Bass, Phoenix just can't match it.

The thing is that Love would be running away from a franchise incapable of making the playoffs, and I have doubts that he'd be willing to make a commitment to a team that no matter how bright of a future may have, is still in the lottery.

Anyway I am still banking on the Wolves being recklessly stubborn and not trading him this summer.

[TOO]

I agree w/RW. I'm not sure we have the assets that Minny would want for Love. Suns cant cripple themselves in order to get a PF, and to get Love, I think we'd have to. I think I'd rather chase a PF from the draft and continue building that way.

[Superbone]

I agree w/RW. I'm not sure we have the assets that Minny would want for Love. Suns cant cripple themselves in order to get a PF, and to get Love, I think we'd have to. I think I'd rather chase a PF from the draft and continue building that way.

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't cripple ourselves to get him. For example, no way I'd deal Dragic to get him. I'd want them playing together. What good are those long outlet passes without a speedster like Dragic on the other end? Plus, Dragic's and Love's pick and roll or pick and pop would be a thing of beauty.

[Superbone]

OTOH, I could deal with losing Frye, the Morris Bros, a bunch of picks, and maybe even one of our rookies. If we had to throw in some combination of Tucker or Green, I could deal with that too. It's a fine balance though. You don't want to gut the team.

Our expensive guard tandem puts us in a bit of a pickle too. I'd much rather part with Bledsoe than Dragic if we get Love though.

[TOO]

You almost have to keep Dragic if you get Love. They are tailor made for each other.

I'd move a Bledsoe, 2 1st, and the MoBros for him. Nothing more, no Archie, no Len.

[Superbone]

You almost have to keep Dragic if you get Love. They are tailor made for each other.

Yep.

I'd move a Bledsoe, 2 1st, and the MoBros for him. Nothing more, no Archie, no Len.

If that's what it took to get him, I would throw in Archie or Len too but of course I'd prefer not to.

[SwingMan]

You almost have to keep Dragic if you get Love. They are tailor made for each other.

Yep.

I'd move a Bledsoe, 2 1st, and the MoBros for him. Nothing more, no Archie, no Len.

If that's what it took to get him, I would throw in Archie or Len too but of course I'd prefer not to.

Anything more than Frye, Green, Minnesota's pick owed us and a future 1st, it's no deal, IMO - our picks might better be used to move up to snag Vonleh or Gordon, anyways.

[TOO]

That offer wouldn't get you very far in any negotiation, much less a star PF.

[SwingMan]

That offer wouldn't get you very far in any negotiation, much less a star PF.

No skin off of my or the teams' ass - Love's been the star of a team he's never made one iota better for 6 years and counting, he isn't worth more. Plain & simple.

[TOO]

I disagree, he's been highly effective on a poorly coached/constructed team. Its certainly not HIS fault they didn't make the playoffs. 25pts/14reb players are very rare. One who fits our PnR/Fastbreak offense to perfection is almost impossible to find. Love is our unicorn.

[SwingMan]

I disagree, he's been highly effective on a poorly coached/constructed team. Its certainly not HIS fault they didn't make the playoffs.

He might do better on a different team, but he's not a franchise type at all - and here, he'd definitely be a cog.

Not saying he not worth pursuing - just that he's not worth giving up more than I mentioned above. Especially if he doesn't re-up after season's end.

[Superbone]

Love is our unicorn.

Heh. Nice quote.

[In2ition]

It would be a great help to get some luck in the lottery on Tuesday. One, because it would increase the assets and create an immediately almost most valuable asset to any from any team. Two, it takes away an asset from the Wolves, causing them to desire that asset(Draft pick) even more. I would be OK with the Suns trading down a few spots in the lottery if they won to aquire another 2015 unprotected pick, and draft Vonleh. Then trade a combination of the other picks to move into the top 7 to pick Gordon. This would leave the Suns with a second round pick, along with 3 1sts and a 2nd next year that could be traded.

[TOO]

If we won the lottery I'm taking Embiid or Wiggins, unless someone blows my pants off with an offer.

[SDC]

Ouch. the big stars dont want to play for phoenix.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... iors-Bulls