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From Bulpett's sources:
The Celtics are willing to discuss a number of options, but none of them includes the quality of player with NBA experience that Minnesota is seeking or believes it can get elsewhere.
One source indicated Denver and Golden State have both made more intriguing offers, and there are other teams very much in the picture, as well. There have been conflicting reports on whether the Warriors would make Klay Thompson available, but the Wolves are said to be confident they can find a more than acceptable deal there.
The Nuggets are the newest suitor at the front of the line of the Love sweepstakes, but I can't imagine Love would leave Minnesota for Denver. It's not like they're in win now mode either. Bulpett goes on to say that Flip isn't that enamored with either Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk (presumably not both), citing Al Jefferson's upside as the grease that moved the Kevin Garnett deal forward. And with the depth of the draft, Minnesota views Boston's #6 pick as no better than who they could grab at #13. Bulpett surmises that involving a third team with an immediate impact player could help Boston's pursuit. Could that mean involving Milwaukee and Larry Sanders? How about Phoenix's Eric Bledsoe? Plate spinning a three team deal is difficult, but if there's anybody capable of doing it, it's Danny Ainge. And maybe Red Panda.
For those Celtics fans dying for this trade to happen, take solace in the fact that there's all this chatter going on. Rumors are leaked and sources are used as sounding boards when a trade of this magnitude is afoot. And then there's superfan #1 Bill Simmons' take:
If TWolves trade Love, Celts are heavy favs to get him now. GS won't discuss Klay T. + Bulls are focused on Melo. Boston trumps anyone else.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 18, 2014
And Chad Ford's take:
Here's Chad Ford with the latest on Kevin Love. Fans need to stop overreacting. (cc: @celticsblog, @canishoopus) pic.twitter.com/CQpq0KbQzq
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 18, 2014
And Vitor Faverani's response? More tatoos:
We're eight days away from the draft. Expect to see these types of conflicting reports/opinions more and more as we get closer to June 26th.