NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Kevin Love to Boston Celtics? C’s Could Send Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green and Draft Picks To Wolves For All-Star Power Forward
The Boston Celtics have emerged as another potential free-agency destination for Kevin Love after Minnesota Timberwolves star's comment about the team's ability to attract big time free-agency over the next few seasons.
Love, who is widely expected to opt out from the final year of his deal with the T-Wolves and become a free agent in the summer of 2015, believed the 17-time NBA champion has the winning tradition, the talent and a great coach to be an attractive free-agency destination for All-Star caliber players.
"I've never really spent much time in Boston. I don't know it too well," Love told the Globe. "But I think as far as playing there, we love competing against those guys. I think they have a great coach and they have a ton of youngsters that are up-and-comers.
"Boston is a great city. I'm sure free agents would love to go there, especially with [Brad] Stevens as a coach. He's a guy that can win basketball games. He gets guys to play for him. They've been having good success there, even in his first year, and he has a lot of young players. The coach has a lot to do with it, but yeah, Boston is a great place," said Love, who is already drawing interest from Celtics' rival Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls.
Celtics, Wolves in Another Blockbuster Trade?
Several years ago, the Timberwolves and the Celtics pulled off a blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Beantown in exchange for a handful of players and draft picks. Many basketball followers panned the trade as the most lopsided deal ever with the T-Wolves gaining nothing significant assets from the trade.
Now, the T-Wolves is facing the same scenario as Love showed signs that he's going to leave the Twin City for a chance to win a championship. Big Market teams such as the Lakers and the Knicks have expressed their desire to get a double-double machine like Love, but they have to wait for two more seasons for them to get their hands on the All-Star.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are searching for another star to speed up their rebuilding. With Rajon Rondo slowly gaining his old groove, the Celtics are showing potential despite a roster consists of young players.
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There are rumours that the Celtics might want to deal Rondo for two unprotected draft picks, but Celtics GM Danny Ainge stressed that he won't trade the playmaker at all as he look to lock him up with a multi-year extension. However, for Ainge to do it, he must bring another star to convince Rondo to stay. And apparently, they have the assets to pull it off.
In an attempt to land Love right away, the Celtics could send Brandon Bass, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger and probably first-round draft pick for the All-Star power forward.
It's a win-win situation for both teams since the Wolves will be receiving a versatile big man in Green and another future double-double stud in Sullinger. Bradley is also a solid young player that could give Wolves defense in the perimeter while Bass will provide depth in the frontline. On the other hand, the Celtics will get Love, who will surely compliment Rondo's cunning ability to distribute the ball. If the Celtics manage to surround Rondo and Love with great pieces, then it may just take one or two years to get them back to title contention.
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