The Kevin Love trade rumors are not going away and teams like the Chicago Bulls, NY Knicks, LA Lakers and Houston Rockets are all in the mix along with the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in a deal with the Timberwolves and while Minnesota doesn't want to trade Love, they may not have much of a choice.
The team risks losing him for nothing in free agency and that is not something they want to do and this summer the floodgates will be open if they are serious. According to ESPN.com, Love likes the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets are also an option, but some of those teams mentioned above will have to make some major moves to get it done. The Celtics and Suns have first round draft picks to use and that could make a deal work and the Bulls also will have to make trades to get something done.
The Bulls will need to clear space for Carlos Boozer's money to get Love and they also may have to trade Taj Gibson. The Bulls and Rockets also are targeting Carmelo Anthony and now they have another team in play with the Heat and that could make it even tougher. Love wants out and he said as much and now the free agent to be in 2015 could move before that.
Reports from Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN have the Bulls and Celtics looking at a Love trade hard and ESPN.com also reports that the Bulls will go after Carmelo Anthony if they miss out on Love. The Celtics have numerous draft picks to move, while the Bulls have a number of talented players they could put in a deal and that is one reason why they are considered one of the favorites. The report also cites a connection between Saunders and the Celtics that isn't so great and that could be one reason why the Bulls are in it. The report says that the Bulls offer is a better one than what Boston is trying to give and these rumors will continue until Love is traded or a decision is made not to trade him.
The Bulls will need to make moves to have any chance at getting Love, as they will have to trade Carlos Boozer or use the amnesty clause on him and players like Jimmy Butler or Taj Gibson also could be in the mix. The Warriors have moves they can make with players like David Lee, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson on the roster, while the Celtics also have some assets. The team would like to keep Rajon Rondo, but they have players available along with draft picks. That latter addition could be what brings the Suns in, as they have picks and players, including Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe.
Love has long been expected to opt out of his contract after next season in the summer of 2015 if he remains with the Timberwolves and is not traded and he has not made it clear that he is not signing an extension with the team. Minnesota convinced Love to sign and extension a couple years ago and gave him the opt out to get it done and now the clock is ticking on a trade. According to ESPN.com, Love likes the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors the best for a deal, as they are winning situations with talented rosters. The Timberwolves have so far given no indication about what they will actually do, with owner Glen Taylor saying that the team will not trade Love and other reports from ESPN.com and Pro Basketball Talk reporting that the team is open to listening to offers.