It is that time of the year. We have yet to see which two teams will meet in the 2014 NBA Finals (Spoiler Alert – it will be the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs for a second straight year), but the NBA rumors are already swirling. The offseason is just over a month away, and that includes the 2014 NBA Draft. The biggest name who could be on the open market this Summer is Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The big man already expressed his desire to test free agency after his contract expires following the 2014-2015 season, and has said that he has no intent on signing an extension in Minnesota. That may force the Timberwolves’ hand to explore all trade options for Love over the coming weeks and months, with many teams expected to jump into the mix to acquire a double-double machine. With that being said, and with multiple sources reporting that they will be an intriguing possibility, I would not expect to see the Boston Celtics make a move for Love. The Timberwolves can trade Love to the Celtics or any other NBA team without his approval, but a smart team would be hesitant to give up much for a player who could bolt after one season. Especially a smart team who will not be in contention for a title next season.
That sums up the Celtics, I hope.
Yes, Love is likely to be dealt. And yes, the Celtics have multiple first-round draft picks in the 2014 NBA Draft and beyond. They may even have a top five pick in June, and that would certainly interest the Timberwolves. But, with the Celtics not likely to become contenders for another season or two – at the absolute earliest – why would they consider trading a top draft pick that could turn into a cornerstone franchise builder for a player who may only wear the white and green for one season? It would make no sense.
That did not prevent Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports deeming the Celtics as an “increasingly intriguing destination” for Love. James Herbert of CBS Sports also said that the Celtics may have what it takes to acquire Love.
The thing is, just because a team may have the assets necessary to acquire an All-Star player, doesn’t mean that they should give up what could help them build a perennial contender going forward. Love is a very good player. When the Celtics were a contender with players such as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce helping guide the team, it would have been great to see Love play alongside them in hopes of winning one more NBA Championship. But KG and The Truth are gone, and the truth now is that the Celtics are not close to competing for a title. Acquiring Love would not change that, at least not in the immediate future. While it would be great to add a player such as Love to play with Rajon Rondo, there is also no guarantee that the long-time Boston point guard will be here past 2015 either. If one or both departs via free agency in 2015, then the Celtics would be worse off then they are now, because they would have had to have watched two great players leave, while also seeing their draft picks play for another team for years to come.
Ultimately, the Celtics will likely have enough to trade to the Timberwolves for Love. After all, they made a trade with Minnesota in the past for a talented big man, while also dealing a top five draft pick that same offseason. The deals brought Garnett and Ray Allen to Boston, which resulted in an NBA Championship. I just don’t see lightning striking twice.
The Celtics could acquire Love, but he will not be the answer. Not in the long-term. Drafting a player such as Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid could be. It would also cost far less.
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