NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Celtics to Pursue Kevin Love
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
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The Boston Celtics have emerged as an increasingly intriguing destination for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love, and the Celtics’ draft position coming out of Tuesday night’s lottery could be telltale in determining the feasibility of a trade, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Love, 25, wants a chance to play for an immediate contender, but has an open mind about multiple destinations in the league, sources said. In six NBA seasons, Love has yet to reach the playoffs in Minnesota.
The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets have emerged as possible trading partners for the Wolves, who fell below expectations this year and failed to make the playoffs for the 10th year in a row.
Boston will likely have the fifth pick in the upcoming draft (to be determined on Tuesday at the Draft Lottery), which will be the centerpiece of any deal for Love. Love would instantly become the franchise player in Boston, and would lead a young, developing roster. While the Celtics are not ready for a playoff run as of now, they are on the upswing with young players, multiple draft picks and new head coach Brad Stevens. Also, the Eastern Conference is much weaker than the West, and Love would have an easier route to the playoffs than he had in all his years in Minnesota.
The Rockets are also a possible destination. Chandler Parsons would be at the center of any deal for Love. Parsons has proven to be one of the most versatile small forwards in the league, and is still very young. Omer Asik, who is one of the best defensive centers in the league, would also likely be included.
Other teams that will reportedly pursue Love include the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. The Suns, in particular, have several assets to make a deal and a strong core to incorporate Love into. Nothing is imminent yet, and a deal will not be made until Love commits to signing long-term with any team that wants to trade for him.
The Bulls will begin negotiations for the first time this offseason with Mirotic, who has a buyout this summer. Though Real Madrid made noise about possibly signing Mirotic to an extension beyond the one year remaining on his deal, that could contain an out clause should Mirotic opt for the NBA.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Bulls will attempt to sign international prospect Nikola Mirotic this summer. Mirotic, who currently plays for Real Madrid, was acquired by the Bulls on draft day in 2011.
Mirotic is a skilled big man at 6’10 and would be a significant addition for the Bulls next season, especially if Carlos Boozer is amnestied.
Another possibility is the Bulls including the rights to Mirotic in a package to acquire Kevin Love from the Wolves. The Bulls can also include their first-round picks for the upcoming draft (No. 16 and No. 19) in any deal with Minnesota. A pairing of Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and Joakim Noah would make the Bulls a contender in the East, even if a player like Jimmy Butler is sent to Minnesota.
If Mirotic does not come over to the Bulls this season, he will likely sign the following season.
Cavs will move Tristan Thompson this summer according to a source and could combine him with Anderson Varejao & picks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers recently removed the interim tag from David Griffin and made him the full-time general manager. Simultaneous to Griffin’s promotion was the firing of former head coach Mike Brown.
Now Griffin will be tasked with finding a new head coach and retooling the roster, which underachieved this season. Tristan Thompson is a solid big man, but is still very much a work in progress. Though he has improved since being drafted fourth overall in 2011, he has yet to establish himself as one of the better young big men in the league.
Anderson Varejao is a very good big who can play power forward or center. He always gives maximum effort on the court and is one of the best rebounders in the league. Varejao’s contract is only partially guaranteed for the 2014-15 season.
A package of Thompson, Varejao and a first-round pick should net valuable assets and would signal that Griffin is not adverse to moving significant players and assets. With a new general manager in place and Kyrie Irving’s free agency coming up, this could be an active offseason for the Cavaliers.
