[h=1]Who will win the 'Summer of Love'?[/h][h=3]Examining every team's trade chips, chances of landing Wolves' All-Star big[/h]By Amin Elhassan | ESPN Insider
It's finally here. After months of waiting, and denial from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Kevin Love sweepstakes have begun.
This has become the new, passive-aggressive method for stars to demand trades: If they had the foresight to negotiate an early out in their deal, they will drop the implication that their current team has no chance of re-signing them so it's better off moving them before they walk. In the past few seasons, we've seen it happen with Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Now Love joins that illustrious list, and Minnesota can either be stubborn or accept its fate and make lemonade out of lemons.
Here's a primer of every team's chances of being a player in the "Summer of Love," including top trade chips, likelihood of landing him and potential pitch to the All-Star big and the Wolves.
[h=3]Love connection[/h]
These teams have the assets to get a deal done and the potential to be contenders after the deal (a key component to Love agreeing to sign an extension or re-sign with the team).
Chicago Bulls
Trade bait: Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks
Pitch: Chicago can offer Minnesota a deal prior to the 2014 draft or wait until July 1, whichever is more convenient. Gibson would be the centerpiece of the talent moving to Minnesota, as an elite defensive big, while Boozer represents an expiring contract and Snell is a young wing with potential to be a very good defensive player and 3-point shooter. Meanwhile, the Bulls can alleviate some of the Wolves' cap-clogging deals by taking back some of their longer contracts.
As far as picks go, the Bulls have all their own first-rounders moving forward as well as Charlotte's 2014 first-round pick, a protected 2015 first-rounder from Sacramento, a 2015 pick swap with Cleveland and two future second-rounders from Portland.
For Love, this is all about the opportunity to play for one of the best coaches in Tom Thibodeau and alongside Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose in a weakened Eastern Conference.
<OFFER></OFFER>
Golden State Warriors
Trade bait: David Lee, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson, Festus Ezeli, Draymond Green
Pitch: Golden State's pitch to Minnesota has to be that the Wolves can field a competitive lineup with the assets they will receive from the Warriors, a significant feature for a club that hasn't been in the postseason in 10 years. Lee is only one year removed from an All-Star bid, and the Warriors can offer any combination of one of their young wings (Barnes or Thompson) and young bigs (Ezeli or Green).
Like Chicago, they will likely sweeten the deal by accepting some of Minnesota's bad deals. Note: The Warriors can trade their 2015 first-round pick only after the 2014 draft, as the Stepien rule prohibits the trading of future consecutive firsts.
Love fits perfectly with the remaining cast of Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut as an elite stretch 4 and terrific rebounder.
Houston Rockets
Trade bait: James Harden, Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Terrence Jones, Troy Daniels
Pitch: Houston will sell the Wolves on Harden being the only All-NBA player dangled in an offer, along with an elite defensive big in Asik and any other selection from the end of the roster. Like Golden State, the Rockets' strength is they can give up proven talent to help Minnesota win in the present. Unlike Golden State, Houston can throw in a combination of first-rounders moving forward. In this scenario, Love plays alongside a dominant defensive big in Howard and plays for the man who drafted and coached him in Kevin McHale.
Phoenix Suns
Trade bait: Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Gerald Green, Archie Goodwin, Miles Plumlee, Channing Frye, picks
Pitch: Phoenix can offer the Wolves cheap, young talent (the Morris twins, Green, Goodwin, Plumlee) and lots of picks, including Minnesota's own top-12 protected first-rounder that is owed to Phoenix and the Lakers' top-five protected pick in 2015. Phoenix has enormous cap flexibility to accept extra toxic deals (note: Frye can be included only if he chooses to opt-in to the last year of his deal). In Phoenix, Love would play in an up-tempo system that speaks to his strengths.
[h=3]Secret admirer[/h]
Teams that have an asset collection but might not necessarily be on Love's short list. They will seek to convince him they're the place to be long term.
Boston Celtics
Trade bait: Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Keith Bogans, picks
Pitch: The Celtics have a wealth of future picks from Brooklyn as well as an unprotected 2015 first-rounder from the Clippers and a protected 2015 first-rounder from Philly. Plus, the C's can offer some mildly interesting young talents like Sullinger, expiring deals in Bass and Anthony and Bogans' nonguaranteed $5.3 million deal. Love would play with Rajon Rondo in the East. But the offer to Minnesota and the prospects for Love pale in comparison to potential deals from other suitors.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade bait: Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, picks
Pitch: Cleveland owns protected 2015 first-round picks from Miami and Memphis, the 33rd pick in the 2014 draft and (if the Cavs are wild) the No. 1 overall pick in 2014. Waiters and Thompson are young talents, and Varejao is a productive big on a partial guarantee.
Love would play with Kyrie Irving in the East. Unlike Boston, Cleveland has the cap space to surround them with talent; like Boston, it still doesn't move the meter for Love, although Minnesota would surely be intrigued with the chance to add the No. 1 pick.
Dallas Mavericks
Trade bait: Samuel Dalembert, picks
Pitch: The Mavericks can offer all their own first-rounders moving forward and Dalembert's partial guaranteed deal next season. Dallas would realistically be able to deal only after July 1, when it will have the cap flexibility to take back excess salary (assuming Dirk Nowitzki agrees to a substantially smaller deal). Mark Cuban is an aggressive buyer and could retool the roster, but in the end, Love and Dirk don't sound like a great match.
[h=3]Lonely hearts club[/h]
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans
These are teams that are not expected to aggressively pursue Love but could put together an asset package and hope he will change his mind once he's there. Stan Van Gundy's presence in Detroit is especially intriguing, as a Love-Andre Drummond front line has a lot of potential for growth. The Pelicans' bad contracts probably preclude them from dealing, and Memphis' front-office turmoil is ill-timed.
[h=3]Happily committed relationship[/h]
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
These teams have a comparable high-level 4, and while each could shake up what it has to get Love for the upside of his youth, they seem unlikely to break up a good thing, especially considering the additional throw-ins they would need to consummate the deal. Caveat: an LaMarcus Aldridge-for-Love deal, where Love returns to his native Oregon, would be interesting.
[h=3]'I'm working on me right now'[/h]
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz
These teams are rebuilding, and while they might be able to craft an asset package that would entice the Wolves, the remaining talent would not be sufficient to convince Love they are ready to compete. In essence, they would be giving up a bunch of assets for a rental.
[h=3]Stalkers[/h]
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks
You know these teams well. Their names are connected to every superstar who comes available. But they don't have anywhere near the asset package to persuade Minnesota to deal. Their best hope? Love hates wherever he goes and hits free agency in 2015 (2016 for Brooklyn).
[h=3]The nerd table[/h]
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
The rest of the pack: If they could put together an asset package attractive enough for Minnesota to bite, they wouldn't have much left to persuade Love to stay.
It's finally here. After months of waiting, and denial from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Kevin Love sweepstakes have begun.
This has become the new, passive-aggressive method for stars to demand trades: If they had the foresight to negotiate an early out in their deal, they will drop the implication that their current team has no chance of re-signing them so it's better off moving them before they walk. In the past few seasons, we've seen it happen with Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Now Love joins that illustrious list, and Minnesota can either be stubborn or accept its fate and make lemonade out of lemons.
Here's a primer of every team's chances of being a player in the "Summer of Love," including top trade chips, likelihood of landing him and potential pitch to the All-Star big and the Wolves.
[h=3]Love connection[/h]
These teams have the assets to get a deal done and the potential to be contenders after the deal (a key component to Love agreeing to sign an extension or re-sign with the team).
Chicago Bulls
Trade bait: Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell, draft picks
Pitch: Chicago can offer Minnesota a deal prior to the 2014 draft or wait until July 1, whichever is more convenient. Gibson would be the centerpiece of the talent moving to Minnesota, as an elite defensive big, while Boozer represents an expiring contract and Snell is a young wing with potential to be a very good defensive player and 3-point shooter. Meanwhile, the Bulls can alleviate some of the Wolves' cap-clogging deals by taking back some of their longer contracts.
As far as picks go, the Bulls have all their own first-rounders moving forward as well as Charlotte's 2014 first-round pick, a protected 2015 first-rounder from Sacramento, a 2015 pick swap with Cleveland and two future second-rounders from Portland.
For Love, this is all about the opportunity to play for one of the best coaches in Tom Thibodeau and alongside Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose in a weakened Eastern Conference.
<OFFER></OFFER>
Golden State Warriors
Trade bait: David Lee, Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson, Festus Ezeli, Draymond Green
Pitch: Golden State's pitch to Minnesota has to be that the Wolves can field a competitive lineup with the assets they will receive from the Warriors, a significant feature for a club that hasn't been in the postseason in 10 years. Lee is only one year removed from an All-Star bid, and the Warriors can offer any combination of one of their young wings (Barnes or Thompson) and young bigs (Ezeli or Green).
Like Chicago, they will likely sweeten the deal by accepting some of Minnesota's bad deals. Note: The Warriors can trade their 2015 first-round pick only after the 2014 draft, as the Stepien rule prohibits the trading of future consecutive firsts.
Love fits perfectly with the remaining cast of Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut as an elite stretch 4 and terrific rebounder.
Houston Rockets
Trade bait: James Harden, Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Terrence Jones, Troy Daniels
Pitch: Houston will sell the Wolves on Harden being the only All-NBA player dangled in an offer, along with an elite defensive big in Asik and any other selection from the end of the roster. Like Golden State, the Rockets' strength is they can give up proven talent to help Minnesota win in the present. Unlike Golden State, Houston can throw in a combination of first-rounders moving forward. In this scenario, Love plays alongside a dominant defensive big in Howard and plays for the man who drafted and coached him in Kevin McHale.
Phoenix Suns
Trade bait: Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Gerald Green, Archie Goodwin, Miles Plumlee, Channing Frye, picks
Pitch: Phoenix can offer the Wolves cheap, young talent (the Morris twins, Green, Goodwin, Plumlee) and lots of picks, including Minnesota's own top-12 protected first-rounder that is owed to Phoenix and the Lakers' top-five protected pick in 2015. Phoenix has enormous cap flexibility to accept extra toxic deals (note: Frye can be included only if he chooses to opt-in to the last year of his deal). In Phoenix, Love would play in an up-tempo system that speaks to his strengths.
[h=3]Secret admirer[/h]
Teams that have an asset collection but might not necessarily be on Love's short list. They will seek to convince him they're the place to be long term.
Boston Celtics
Trade bait: Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Keith Bogans, picks
Pitch: The Celtics have a wealth of future picks from Brooklyn as well as an unprotected 2015 first-rounder from the Clippers and a protected 2015 first-rounder from Philly. Plus, the C's can offer some mildly interesting young talents like Sullinger, expiring deals in Bass and Anthony and Bogans' nonguaranteed $5.3 million deal. Love would play with Rajon Rondo in the East. But the offer to Minnesota and the prospects for Love pale in comparison to potential deals from other suitors.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade bait: Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, picks
Pitch: Cleveland owns protected 2015 first-round picks from Miami and Memphis, the 33rd pick in the 2014 draft and (if the Cavs are wild) the No. 1 overall pick in 2014. Waiters and Thompson are young talents, and Varejao is a productive big on a partial guarantee.
Love would play with Kyrie Irving in the East. Unlike Boston, Cleveland has the cap space to surround them with talent; like Boston, it still doesn't move the meter for Love, although Minnesota would surely be intrigued with the chance to add the No. 1 pick.
Dallas Mavericks
Trade bait: Samuel Dalembert, picks
Pitch: The Mavericks can offer all their own first-rounders moving forward and Dalembert's partial guaranteed deal next season. Dallas would realistically be able to deal only after July 1, when it will have the cap flexibility to take back excess salary (assuming Dirk Nowitzki agrees to a substantially smaller deal). Mark Cuban is an aggressive buyer and could retool the roster, but in the end, Love and Dirk don't sound like a great match.
[h=3]Lonely hearts club[/h]
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans
These are teams that are not expected to aggressively pursue Love but could put together an asset package and hope he will change his mind once he's there. Stan Van Gundy's presence in Detroit is especially intriguing, as a Love-Andre Drummond front line has a lot of potential for growth. The Pelicans' bad contracts probably preclude them from dealing, and Memphis' front-office turmoil is ill-timed.
[h=3]Happily committed relationship[/h]
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
These teams have a comparable high-level 4, and while each could shake up what it has to get Love for the upside of his youth, they seem unlikely to break up a good thing, especially considering the additional throw-ins they would need to consummate the deal. Caveat: an LaMarcus Aldridge-for-Love deal, where Love returns to his native Oregon, would be interesting.
[h=3]'I'm working on me right now'[/h]
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz
These teams are rebuilding, and while they might be able to craft an asset package that would entice the Wolves, the remaining talent would not be sufficient to convince Love they are ready to compete. In essence, they would be giving up a bunch of assets for a rental.
[h=3]Stalkers[/h]
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks
You know these teams well. Their names are connected to every superstar who comes available. But they don't have anywhere near the asset package to persuade Minnesota to deal. Their best hope? Love hates wherever he goes and hits free agency in 2015 (2016 for Brooklyn).
[h=3]The nerd table[/h]
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
The rest of the pack: If they could put together an asset package attractive enough for Minnesota to bite, they wouldn't have much left to persuade Love to stay.
