With the NBA draft bearing down on the process, the Celtics are knocking on a door that may be locked to not only them but the rest of the league, as well.

There remains some possibility that Minnesota will trade Kevin Love by tomorrow night, but involved sources told the Herald that Timberwolves president of basketball operations, coach and part owner Flip Saunders is growing more entrenched that he should let things play out with his All-Star forward.

Love told the club he plans to exercise his opt-out and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and, according to a source, he repeated that statement when told Saunders might be taking over the coaching reins.

But Saunders is now ready to roll the dice and see if Love will change his mind, rather than making a trade he does not believe meets his standard. His chief aim continues to be keeping the Timberwolves from taking a step backward. He is said to be set on avoiding a larger rebuilding process.

Clubs told the Herald that Saunders is looking for people who can contribute right away, and that has put the Celtics in a scrambling position. It’s been reported here that Danny Ainge offered the sixth and 17th overall picks, along with Kelly Olynyk and one of their own future first-round picks. They are also willing to discuss packages that include first-rounders the C’s are owed from Brooklyn in 2016 and 2018.

But one problem from the Timberwolves’ side is the additional contracts they would take back to make the salary numbers on a deal conform to the collective bargaining rules.

The best the Celtics could offer by themselves is a collection that would give Minnesota a jump start on reconstruction. But in that such is not its desire, Ainge has, according to league sources, been trying to learn which players would appeal to Saunders with the idea of acquiring them and rerouting them to the Wolves for Love.

However, word is Minnesota does not believe the Celtics can get what the Wolves want. And what Saunders wants is to make an upward move next season by adding pieces to last year’s core.

While many believe it’s doubtful the Timberwolves could do anything more than maybe secure a seventh or eighth seed and an early departure from the playoffs, and then see Love opt out and leave, Saunders has painted a much different picture in discussions with league people.

Minnesota finished 40-42 last year, good for 10th in the West, nine games behind Dallas, the eighth and final seed. Saunders is said to be pointing to the fact the club lost 13 games by four or fewer points and that center Nikola Pekovic missed 28 games with an ankle injury.

In the East, the Wolves would be seen in a different light, but geography, in the form of relative conference strength, is working against them. (Minnesota was 17-13 vs. the East last season.)

Given the right circumstances (a healthy Pekovic, a good draft pick, etc.) Saunders might correctly surmise he’s closer to having a good team than one in need of major surgery. But Love remains the 6-foot-10 bearded elephant in the room. Even if there is strong improvement, there are those close to the situation who say it won’t be enough to keep Love in Minneapolis. And if he leaves next summer, the club’s choices will be limited.

Saunders, though, seems comfortable with putting off his nuclear options. As of yesterday, it seemed to be growing by the hour that Minnesota would be doing nothing more exciting than drafting tomorrow night.

Still, sources hastened to add that such could change if the killer offer Saunders seeks comes through. Failing that, those same people are saying the club is better off standing pat, for now. (There is also talk that the club believes now it acted too hastily in trading Kevin Garnett to the Celts six years ago, missing the chance to get at least as much, if not more, by waiting to move him.)

And while Celtics followers may think three first-round draft picks and a promising young player should be enough to whet the Wolves’ appetite, it’s important to note Minnesota has missed the playoffs for 10 straight years, the longest active drought in the NBA. The prospect of losing its best player and entering a prolonged reconstruction may be a difficult sell for the franchise.

That longer road is one the Celtics are trying to avoid with their attempt for Love, but as of yesterday, this particular shortcut appeared to be clogged.