The NBA playoffs are into the conference finals and soon after that the offseason will begin and that means trade rumors involving Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo and in the summer teams like Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, NY Knicks, LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will be active on the market with names like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony expected to be available.
The Timberwolves will have some major questions to consider this offseason, as they have Kevin Love coming into what could be the last year of his contract with his opt out coming next summer in 2015. The Timberwolves likely will wait to see if the team is in contention heading into the trade deadline next season before making any moves with Love, but there's always a chance one team will floor them with a proposal this summer. Love and the Timberwolves are in a similar situation that Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard had with the Nuggets and Magic, as the teams had to weigh whether to trade their stars for something or risk losing them for nothing as free agents.
The Houston Rockets could be a player for Kevin Love if they can't convince Carmelo Anthony to sign, as they see this summer as a chance to build up a big 3 for Dwight Howard and James Harden. The team reportedly is one of the clubs looking to target Anthony this summer along with the Chicago Bulls and if that doesn't work out, GM Daryl Morey could turn his attention to Love and the Timberwolves. The Rockets may not necessarily need Love alongside Howard and Harden, but that doesn't mean Morey won't go after him anyway and he has shown in the past that he is not afraid to pull off big moves or think outside the box when it comes to trades.
Morey saw a situation with the Oklahoma City Thunder when they did not want to pay Harden a max contract and while it cost the team some high draft picks, they now have one of the best scorers in the league. Harden is a budding superstar and it also weakened a rival with the trade and now he could look to do it again with Love. The Rockets have money tied up in Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik and any move made would have to include at least one of those names and on top of that, the situation involving Chandler Parsons will also play a factor.
Morey has to decide on what to do with Parsons, as he was the main target in a proposed trade with the Celtics for Rajon rondo and if he explores that again, he likely will have to give him up. On top of that, Parsons can be a restricted free agent now or an unrestricted free agent next year and that will play into what Morey does as well. Love is set to become a free agent next summer after signing his extension with the Timberwolves and of the team holds onto him during the summer, the trade deadline becomes the next big date on the calendar. The Wolves likely will trade Love if they are out of contention next season, as they want to make sure they get something in return for him, ala what the Nuggets and Magic did with Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.