The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are back at the negotiating table, which could be good news for the Boston Celtics.
T’Wolves president Flip Saunders and Warriors general manager Bob Myers met at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas in an attempt to re-open trade talks for Kevin Love, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. While this means the Warriors are still the No. 1 team the Wolves are looking to engage, it also means that Love technically remains available.
That in itself should give the Celtics hope. Yet there is also the fact that the longer the Love saga plays out, the more attractive the Celtics’ assets become, writes Matt Moore at CBS Sports.
“There continues to be the thought that the Wolves lack leverage and don’t have strong enough suitors to play hardball,” Moore wrote Wednesday. “But they have until the trade deadline in February, with no real hope of going forward if Love leaves, so playing through the season with (the) distraction is still better than the alternative and disappearing entirely once Love leaves.
“And on top of Cleveland’s internal debate about trading (No. 1 draft pick Andrew) Wiggins, there’s the fact that Boston, which Love visited last spring, has nine first-round picks, two rookies in Marcus Smart and James Young, and expiring contracts to send back. The Celtics can trade for Love and still have assets left over for a third major deal.”
Trading for Love is widely believed to be the Celtics’ preferred Plan A, with some combination of Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, Smart, Young, draft picks and expiring contracts being offered to Minnesota. Love’s fate is ultimately tied to Rajon Rondo, who could be on the trade block if Boston cannot secure a trade for Love.
