Kevin Love

[Griffin]

Rambis continues to limit Love's minutes. Last game he played 28 minutes, less than Milicic. That is also his season average, slightly less than last season. T-Wolves lost 7 of 9 games so far this year. I think it is more likely that Rambis gets fired before Love gets traded, but what if Love starts asking for a trade? What could the Suns possibly offer to Minnesota? The best I can come up with is Lopez, Clark, Lawal, 2011 first round pick and 2013 first round pick. We really don't have any cheap promising young players to make such a trade work and the T-Wolves could probably do better. Still, Minnesota would likely be looking for draft picks and would not want to take on too much salary beyond this season. That much we can offer.

A Broussard article from Nov. 5 about Love:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20877/love-frustrated-by-lack-of-love

 

[Black Jesus]

Lopez and 2 first round picks? haha what are we getting back? Amare or Gasol?

Love is worth Lawal and a first... MAX.

 

[Russ Smith]

Love's problem is defense. Rambis was a defender and rebounder and that's what he wants from Love. Kevin is a great rebounder, he can pass, he can score(although he has trouble getting his shot off in the NBA can't dominate inside like he did at UCLA), but he's not a good defender.

There's a place in the NBA for a great rebounder like Love, you can win a title with him on your team IMHO, but he's not what Rambis wants him to be.

And yes Rambis is more likely to go first given their record.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Lopez, Clark, Lawal and 2 firsts? Did you take a GM class from Isiah Thomas?

 

[Griffin]

Lopez and 2 first round picks? haha what are we getting back? Amare or Gasol?

Love is worth Lawal and a first... MAX.

I think people are either overvaluing Lopez or undervaluing Love. He's averaging close to 17 points 13 rebounds in 28 minutes. He'd easily give us 20/14 or better in 35 min. Lopez, on the other hand, has regressed so far this season and at this point I am not sure if he'll ever really be the player the Suns envisioned. As far as Love's defense, he'd still be an improvement in that area over what we have right now. Why in the world would the T-Wolves trade him for only a single first round pick and a second round rookie? I don't even think they'd take the offer I proposed.

 

[mojorizen7]

I agree that K.Love could be a piece of the puzzle here. However,trading 1st rd picks at this point in time is foolish given the age of this team.

IMO the SUNS need to flush the toilet first. They aren't willing to do that so......

 

[AzStevenCal]

I agree that K.Love could be a piece of the puzzle here. However,trading 1st rd picks at this point in time is foolish given the age of this team.

IMO the SUNS need to flush the toilet first. They aren't willing to do that so......

A multi-team deal that sends Nash, Hedo, Lopez and Clark out and returns Love and a first works for me. We'd have to rob the NBDL for a backup guard and roster filler but 4 years from now we'd be the greatest team of all time (well, assuming we add three or four superstars in the interim).

Steve

 

[Black Jesus]

I almost can't talk basketball with anyone on this forum anymore.

No one knows what they are talking about.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I almost can't talk basketball with anyone on this forum anymore.

No one knows what they are talking about.

Don't you just hate it when everybody is stupid but you?

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Lopez and 2 first round picks? haha what are we getting back? Amare or Gasol?

Love is worth Lawal and a first... MAX.

Well, Lawal is very much just a throw-in. As far as I'm aware there is no market for him so you are in effect saying that Love is worth a 1st round pick at the most. Since we can't determine that draft position I guess you are putting his value in the mid first round neighborhood.

I think every team out there would jump at such a bargain including Minnesota. I'm confident they'd trade a mid first round pick to acquire a guy capable of pulling down double digit rebounds anytime he gets near the court. I don't know what it would cost to get him but considering the failure rate of big men I've got to believe it's significantly more than an average draft slot.

Steve

 

[HooverDam]

The best I can come up with is Lopez, Clark, Lawal, 2011 first round pick and 2013 first round pick.

You must be clinically insane. Kevin Love is not the kidna guy you build an NBA team around. He's a fine role player, but 2 first round picks plus 2 guys who were first round picks? That trade is ridiculously awful.

 

[Griffin]

You must be clinically insane. Kevin Love is not the kidna guy you build an NBA team around. He's a fine role player, but 2 first round picks plus 2 guys who were first round picks? That trade is ridiculously awful.

Kevin Love is a role player? That's heck of a production out of a role player then. You'd be hard-pressed to find many role players in this league who can both score and rebound like Love does.

And simply being a former first round pick does not enhance one's value. Clark has about zero trade value right now, and the Suns have already given up on him by not picking up his option for next season. Lopez has marginal value right now because of his back issues and the fact that he has seemingly regressed this season. If Lopez starts playing well again and actually improves on last year then it's a different story.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Kevin Love is a role player? That's heck of a production out of a role player then. You'd be hard-pressed to find many role players in this league who can both score and rebound like Love does.

And simply being a former first round pick does not enhance one's value. Clark has about zero trade value right now, and the Suns have already given up on him by not picking up his option for next season. Lopez has marginal value right now because of his back issues and the fact that he has seemingly regressed this season. If Lopez starts playing well again and actually improves on last year then it's a different story.

I'm not sure about Lopez. If his back problems are not an issue, I could see someone like Rambis showing an interest in the guy.

I really like Kevin but I'd hesitate stripping the team of players AND future picks to bring him to Phoenix.. Let's face it, if he was a great player Minnesota would be a much stronger team, especially last year with Jefferson there. I think he could be a key piece in much the same way Gasol was a key piece (different kind of players) but he couldn't carry a team in Memphis any more than Love can carry a team.

If we could get him for something along the lines of Lopez, Clark and a 1st rounder I'd jump at it but I don't know if I'd go too much higher. The highest I'd go would probably be to include Frye or perhaps even Dudley in that package. Even if he does have more value than that, I don't think we'd have enough assets left to benefit from the acquisition.

Steve

 

[azsportsfan01]

Love with a 30-30 night. Not too shabby.

 

[Folster]

Lopez and 2 first round picks? haha what are we getting back? Amare or Gasol?

Love is worth Lawal and a first... MAX.

Care to recant?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Love with a 30-30 night. Not too shabby.

No doubt. It's been 28 years since the last 30-30.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Did I just hear the cost of acquisition go up? If Minnesota was smart they'd finally get revenge for the Herschel Walker trade while the iron was hot; he'd be on his way to Dallas for their next 10 (available) draft picks.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

They won't trade him of course.

Still don't think he is a true star player that could lead a team.

Minnesota has a great nucleus with Beasley and Love once they get Rubio to come over to lead that team.

Beasley is turning into a star player himself and was available for next to nothing, we could have had him for next to nothing..

 

[Griffin]

Pretty nice game for a role player, eh? Btw I seriously doubt that the trade proposal that I suggested would have been enough. The Suns simply do not have any players that the T-Wolves would want so it would have to come down to multiple draft picks, but right now if I was Minnesota I'd hang on to Love for as long as I could.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Beasley is turning into a star player himself and was available for next to nothing, we could have had him for next to nothing..

Yep...and his contract wasn't long term, so in case it didn't work out, it wouldn't have been a major issue. That's what happens when you make crucial decisions without a GM. You end up paying about 10 mil more than necessary for Frye and acquire one of the biggest albatrosses in the NBA.

 

[jlove]

Love is showing his potential and his dominance down low. It took dealing Jefferson, a ball dominant big in the paint (who the Wolves had been trying to shop since drafting Love), for it to show. Amare and Shaq had the same problems as Love and Jefferson. Put a more defensive big next to them that doesn't need the ball, they play a lot better (ala Amare next to Lopez). After posting a 20/20 against the Lakers and then the first 30/30 game in 28 years, has definitely spiked other teams inquiring minds. Minny can request a pretty penny now if they decide to trade him.

The only real assets that Minny would even think of possibly wanting or needing would center around Dragic/Lopez/Dudley? I'd really hate to see it, but if the Suns had to include Dragic in a deal to get Love, then one of their 4 PG's would have to come with Love to back-up Nash. The Suns have done VERY well in getting/finding/drafting/trading for great PG's to run their teams so I don't see too much of an issue in getting another PG of the future. Love is not a super star, nor is he merely a role player as some have mentioned, but paired with a great back court such as Phoenix (Nash/J-Rich), OKC (Durant/Westbrook) or Miami (Wade/Lebron) he is definitely a difference maker and championship help. I could possibly see a Bosh for Love deal. It would benefit Miami since you don't have to run plays for Love like Bosh requires. It would still work long term for Minny, although Bosh would be pissed.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I could possibly see a Bosh for Love deal. It would benefit Miami since you don't have to run plays for Love like Bosh requires. It would still work long term for Minny, although Bosh would be pissed.

Neither Miami nor Minnesota would do that deal.

I could see him being a perfect fit for Oklahoma City.. However I wonder if the Thunder have the pieces to fill Minnesota's needs.

 

[sunsfan88]

Love is too slow for the Suns system of play.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

He had 32/22 tonight against the Spurs who boast Duncan and Blair on the frontline. Love is a beast....

 

[Chaplin]

I'm not sure we're going to find a Power Forward or Center that is a "perfect athletic" fit for the Suns offense. I'd love it if Hakim Warrick (or Amare Stoudemire for that matter) could pull down 12 boards, but it just won't happen--long athletic guys don't rebound well historically. The best rebounders are slower and bigger bodies.

Not saying we shouldn't get someone like that, I'm actually saying we shouldn't base our search on a rebounder on whether they fit our system or not. That way of thinking has gotten us into the mess we're currently in.