Remember when Kevin Love showed up in Boston last summer?
It certainly didn’t seem coincidental that Love – then still with the Timberwolves – was in a city with a team interested in trading for him. Maybe he was just using the Celtics to show his desire to leave Minnesota, but I suspect he had at least some interest in landing in Boston.
Of course, the Timberwolves traded Love to the Cavaliers.
But could Love join the Celtics this summer?
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders:The Celtics have a ton of cash and are geared up to use it. Target number one is Kevin Love. Target number two is Greg Monroe.
Sources close to the process say the Celtics plan to swing for the proverbial fences this summer including runs at Gasol, Leonard and Butler too.
It’s most likely Love sticks with the Cavaliers – despite their apparent attempts to sabotage themselves in that regard. But it absolutely makes sense for Love to opt out. And once he opts out, that opens the door for other teams to make pitches.
Maybe the Celtics could sell Love on their up-and-coming roster and stockpile of future first-round picks to eventually provide reinforcements.
They’ll likely have much better luck with Monroe, whose agent says the money will be the same everywhere. Monroe had one foot out the door when he accepted the Pistons’ qualifying offer, and he’d fit well next to the Celtics’ young stretch fours, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk.
At least Love and Monroe will be unrestricted free agents. It’s very difficult to see restricted free agents Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard escaping the Bulls and Spurs, respectively. Why not try, though? Same with unrestricted free agent Marc Gasol, who will probably stay with the Grizzlies but will also draw a ton of interest elsewhere.