OT: Wolves Ready To Examine Kevin Love Trades For First Time

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...in-love-s-future-undecided-074004019-nba.html

As the Minnesota Timberwolves consider the future of All-Star forward Kevin Love, Sam Mitchell has emerged as a serious candidate for the franchise's head coaching job, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Mitchell left a good impression with Wolves president Flip Saunders in a recent meeting and has moved himself into consideration for the job, league sources said.

Beyond the coaching search, the Wolves are under pressure to start considering trade scenarios for Love, who's anxious to exercise his Early Termination Option (ETO) in the summer of 2015 and leave as a free agent, league sources said.

"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.

Will Sam Mitchell be able to keep Kevin Love in Minnesota? (AP)
No team is likely to trade for Love without an assurance that he'll commit to a five-year, $100 million maximum contract extension. Despite a belief that Love prefers Los Angeles or New York as a potential destination, he's open to deals in other markets where he can be part of an immediate contender, sources said.

Nevertheless, Saunders has made finding a coach to help convince Love to reconsider free agency as a top priority, but the bigger issue for the All-Star forward comes with a roster that hasn't been talented enough to make the Western Conference playoffs.

Minnesota probed several top college coaches, including Florida's Billy Donovan, Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Iowa State's Fred Hoiberg, sources said, but those coaches weren't inclined to seriously consider the Wolves job. The broad belief that the Wolves will have to trade Love has made coaches leery of the franchise's future.

Mitchell has a strong history with Saunders and Minnesota, where he had two stops as a player -- 1989-1992 and 1995-2002. Mitchell played for Saunders in his second stint.

As the Toronto Raptors coach for parts of five seasons, Mitchell reached the playoffs twice and won the NBA coach of the year award in 2007. After his firing into Toronto in 2010, he spent a season with the Nets as an assistant coach. He's been a television analyst and radio host since leaving the Nets in 2011.

 

Finally, after missing the playoffs every year Kevin Lose was on their team racking up empty stats, the Timberwolves are ready to see reason. By trading his ass to the Lakers because all those other teams are just smokescreens.

If Minny was smart, a Love/Lubio for Rondo/Bass trade could work. Let Boston miss the playoffs for 10 more years

 

You had it right the first time.

 

Dammit I meant to use Lose the whole time! >.<

 

I figured as much.

 

It'll be interesting to see what Love does if he is on a more talented team. I could see him being a shareef Abdul rahim type of player who can put up monster stats on bad teams but is very average on playoffs teams

 

...it is no wonder that they are listening to and exploring potential trade offers for him, he "has made it clear to the Timberwolves that he intends to become an unrestricted free agent after next season and has no interest in a contract extension this summer to stay in Minnesota, according to sources with knowledge of the situation."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ion-likes-chicago-bulls-golden-state-warriors

 

If he goes to Phoenix I have to believe that Frye coming here would make a lot of sense. But I guess that's premised on him being a b/u here over a b/u there (I'm assuming they trade the bigger Morris brother - or maybe both) along with picks for Love. I guess if they were trading picks and/or other pieces then there might not be a place for Frye in their rotation at all.

 

If Love goes to Phoenix he will be heavily compared to Charles Barkley. I don't think that would be all that bad though.

 

I would facilitate Love going to Phoenix if it means Frye comes here. Maybe Dorrell can help out with that deal.

 

That's right Kevin, you couldn't earn a trip to the playoffs as the leader of a team with quite a bit of talent, so you want a trade to a team that will carry your fat ass to the post season. We understand.

 

He plays less defense than France, but he would be a nightmare n the playoffs.

 

I like Channing, but is he really a need? He would need to play instead of TROB and will make 7 million next year.

Here is one description of Frye:Talented big man... Good mid-range shot... Has developed a reliable three-point shot too... Good mobility... Shies away from contact... Not a good defender or rebounder.

I think we have more pressing needs than Back up PF.

 

I really really really really hope the Lakers trade their lottery pick for him. That would just be so awesome. Not only would they lose out on a really nice young asset, but they would be trading for a guy that can't lead a team to a championship and will be eating up cap space for the next five or six years. Fucking brilliant.

I'm still predicting that Love and Westbrook will be Lakers within two or three years. That will be so much fun to see. Tons of bickering, ball hogging, and stat whoring.

 

He's going to the Lakers, one way or another. Done deal. Either via trade of free agency.

 

I guess it depends on where they are selecting but I can't imagine them giving up a top 5 for him.

 

I could see him in New York. It's been rumored that Jackson has interest. If he's running the triangle, Kevin would fit nicely.

 

What a rube!

hoop fam

 

I'd play him next to T-Rob at back up center. His man defense isn't bad in the post, and it would give T-Rob tons of room to work in the post, go for offensive rebounds, or on pick n rolls on offense. His rebounding isn't terrible, but he's definitely more of a box out guy (like Lopez-lite) than the guy getting the rebound. Next to a muscular mobile PF like Aldridge or T-Rob he'd be fine. (C on defense, stretch 4 on offense)

 

??? K. Love is a franchise player.