Rose, Love and Noah...Started to tear up thinking of the possibilities! For you non-ESPN insiders, heres the first part of the article. Its 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 its better off moving them before they walk. In the past few seasons, weve 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. Heres a primer of every teams 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. Love connection 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 Charlottes 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.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 22:58:51 +0000
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