SALT LAKE CITY – Cleveland’s growing interest in New Orleans’ Ryan Anderson bodes well in Boston’s seemingly never-ending quest to acquire Kevin Love in what's shaping up to be a potential three-team deal that would include the Boston Celtics.



The particulars of the deal are still in the discussion phase, but the end result if it comes to pass would send Love to Boston, according to a league source.



The deal is still "very fragile" at this point, but it does provide Boston the best shot it has had in landing a player the Celtics have coveted for some time now.



Boston has spent a significant amount of time in recent weeks trying to convince the Cavs to part ways with Love, only to be rebuffed.



The Celtics have pursued bringing a third team into the mix as a way of sweetening the deal to Cleveland's liking.



New Orleans would make for an ideal partner considering Anderson becomes a free agent this summer and the Pelicans aren't expected to pay Anderson the kind of money his status on the free agent market would warrant.



And when you look at his skills in terms of stretching the floor and scoring around the basket, he in many ways provides similar talent (but not as good a rebounder) to Love.



There are still a number of hurdles that need to be overcome before a deal of this magnitude is complete.



But the current stage of discussions is further proof that Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations, is focused on delivering a superstar to this roster sooner rather than later.



And at this point, Love presents the best chance Boston has had in recent years of achieving that goal.