NBA Thread

[eastcoastjaysfan]

In honor of his move to China.... Ron Artest has changed his name to... "Panda Friend".

[GD]

Woj just dropped the nuke.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--cavaliers-have-agreement-to-acquire-kevin-love--who-commits-to-staying-in-cleveland-054657392.html

Sources: Cleveland has agreement to acquire Kevin Love, including contract commitment

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement in principle to send All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

 

Cleveland is making the deal with Minnesota with a firm agreement Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with the Cavaliers on a five-year, $120 million-plus contract extension, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

 

The deal cannot be finalized until Aug. 23, because Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick, cannot be traded until one month following the signing of his rookie contract. The two teams have agreed to the deal, but neither would have recourse if the other decided to pull out of the arrangement before it can be formally completed this month. No third team is involved in the Cavaliers-Timberwolves trade agreement.

 

The precise deal terms have been agreed upon for weeks, but the teams and Love plan to stay silent about the particulars until the trade is announced in 16 days, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Love will join superstar LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to create the most devastating trio in the NBA and will instantly make the Cavaliers frontrunners to win an NBA championship.

 

Part of the Cavaliers' motivation in making the deal for Love was a belief Love would have ended up with the rival Chicago Bulls in a trade and created a significant obstacle in the Eastern Conference, sources said. Cleveland wouldn't have had the salary-cap space to sign Love next summer and could have only obtained him through the trade with Minnesota in a deal now.

 

Wiggins, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, is the centerpiece of the package for Minnesota. The Timberwolves see superstar potential in the forward out of Kansas. Bennett, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft, has shown signs of progress after a difficult start to his rookie season.

 

The T'wolves had hopes of unloading contracts in a Love deal, but that won't be happening. Minnesota still has a goal of freeing itself of J.J. Barea, Luc Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved, league sources said.

 

Love informed the Timberwolves he will not return to the team after opting out of his contract next summer, and pushed them to make a trade for him before the start of this coming season.

 

Love, 25, is a three-time NBA All-Star. He averaged 26 points and 12.5 rebounds for the Timberwolves last season. For his career, he's averaged 19 points and 12.2 rebounds.

[Dylan]

The Minnesota Timberwolves just became my second favourite team

[GD]

Rubio

LaVine

Wiggins

Bennett

Pekovic

 

At the very least, that's gonna be hella fun to watch.

[z3r0s]

The Minnesota Timberwolves just became my second favourite team

 

Much easier to cheer for the Canadian boys when it doesn't involve cheering for the Cavs. Nice and close to MB too .

 

I wonder if the rumors that Bennett is on the move (again) are true? I would think that would be selling very low.

[GD]

^It's Wiggins, Bennett, and a 2015 first.

[z3r0s]

^It's Wiggins, Bennett, and a 2015 first.

 

I just mean are the T-wolves going to flip him

[GD]

Doubt it.

[NorthOf49]

Wow. This always made too much sense to not happen. Go T-Wolves.

[KingKat]

^It's Wiggins, Bennett, and a 2015 first.

 

So basically three first rounders. I don't know much about the NBA at all. This seems generous but I don't know anything about Love.

[GD]

So basically three first rounders. I don't know much about the NBA at all. This seems generous but I don't know anything about Love.

 

He's comfortably a top 10 player. Maybe top 5.

[KingKat]

He's comfortably a top 10 player. Maybe top 5.

 

Damn. I've literally never heard of him before.

[GD]

Damn. I've literally never heard of him before.

 

He's played his entire career on Minnesota, so understandable.

[jays4life19]

Steep price. Love is under contract for one more year, right? He's then obviously going to get a max contract.

 

Cavs will score a ton of points but should be a pretty bad defensive team.

[GD]

Steep price. Love is under contract for one more year, right? He's then obviously going to get a max contract.

 

Cavs will score a ton of points but should be a pretty bad defensive team.

 

The deal includes a 5/120 contract.

[dineke]

Cavs should have traded Irving for Love instead.

[GD]

Cavs should have traded Irving for Love instead.

 

Who would even be interested? Rockets would be even worse defensively, Lakers suck and have no depth, dunno who else wants/needs a PG that bad.

[SpeedyGose]

Steep price. Love is under contract for one more year, right? He's then obviously going to get a max contract.

 

Cavs will score a ton of points but should be a pretty bad defensive team.

 

Yep, I still think the Spurs are better. Especially since teams with this many new acquisitions don't usually gel in the first season. Miami's D last year will be far superior to Cleveland's this year and they got trucked by the Spurs

[GD]

Yeah, San Antonio is still better, but that doesn't take away from the team Cleveland has built.

[NorthOf49]

He's played his entire career on Minnesota, so understandable.

Kevin Love has never made the playoffs though. I don't know if you can be a top 5 player in the NBA without having ever made the playoffs.

[dineke]

Who would even be interested? Rockets would be even worse defensively, Lakers suck and have no depth, dunno who else wants/needs a PG that bad.

 

You don't think Minnesota would have taken Irving? Oh yeah they're going to pay the max for Rubio, forgot about that lol.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

That's an outstanding haul for Love considering he was going to walk. Well done Minny.

[GD]

Kevin Love has never made the playoffs though. I don't know if you can be a top 5 player in the NBA without having ever made the playoffs.

 

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

 

You don't think Minnesota would have taken Irving? Oh yeah they're going to pay the max for Rubio, forgot about that lol.

 

Teams that would be interested in my best estimation:

 

Lakers

Rockets

Knicks

Mavericks

Pistons

Kings for teh lulz

[dineke]

Kevin Love has never made the playoffs though. I don't know if you can be a top 5 player in the NBA without having ever made the playoffs.

 

That's like saying Mike Trout isn't the best player because he never made the playoffs.

[dineke]

Irving's been so overrated that I think he's underrated now...

[NorthOf49]

That's like saying Mike Trout isn't the best player because he never made the playoffs.

It's different in basketball though. One player can impact the game so much more and 53% of teams make the playoffs. Top 5 players take over games on a consistent basis. Can you really be a dominant player if the opposition never gets dominated?

 

Love is a great player and is very useful as a second option IMO, but I don't think he's as good as the stats he's piled up over the years would suggest.

[dineke]

It's different in basketball though. One player can impact the game so much more and 53% of teams make the playoffs. Top 5 players take over games on a consistent basis. Can you really be a dominant player if the opposition never gets dominated?

 

Love is a great player and is very useful as a second option IMO, but I don't think he's as good as the stats he's piled up over the years would suggest.

 

If you examine the T'wolves rosters over the years, you'll understand why Love has never taken them to the playoffs.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

It'll be interesting to see how they co-exist. He's not really a traditional big man and he shoots a ton of shots. I don't know if they're the perfect match.

[KingKat]

If you examine the T'wolves rosters over the years, you'll understand why Love has never taken them to the playoffs.

 

Cuts both ways though. Being the best player on a bad team provides you with opportunities you don't get on a good team (says the complete NBA ignoramus).

[NorthOf49]

If you examine the T'wolves rosters over the years, you'll understand why Love has never taken them to the playoffs.

You can't tell me that guys like LeBron, Durant, Paul and Curry would ever lead a team to win totals like 17, 26 or 31. Also, isn't Ricky Rubio supposed to be good?