This tasty morsel comes from ESPN Insider Chad Ford:
I still believe that Vonleh, Gordon and Smart are the heavy favorites if Boston keeps the pick, with Gordon being the choice right now given the way we have the draft board playing out.
But I continue to get strong signals that the Celtics are trying hard to use pick No. 6 and 17 along with future No. 1s and young players such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to persuade the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade them Kevin Love. One source close to the Wolves said that while Flip Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he’s going to get. Given the strength of the draft, picks 6, 13 and 17 could land them three young starters to help them rebuild their roster quickly.
What have I (and most of our readers) being saying since day 1 of the Kevin Love wants out of Minnesota sweepstakes?
If Danny Ainge really wants Kevin Love, he’ll get him because the Celtics have the unbeatable combination of draft picks, young players and salary cap relief.
All the reports that Saunders didn’t like our “rotation” players or that Chicago had the best offer were planted by Minnesota to drive up the price.
This trade is happening people. Trust me, we’ve had Kevin Love in our sights for 2+ years.
Update: Steve Kylar of Basketball Insiders is also reporting the Celtics are offering both 1st round picks this year:
Word is Boston would do both of their picks this year and a possible future picks for Kevin Love… they have roster players too
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 17, 2014
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