The Minnesota Timberwolves are letting desperation grow for a trade involving Kevin Love. The longer the team holds out, the better the offers become as several teams aim to be in play for the forward. After Love announced his intentions to test the market in 2015, the Timberwolves were bombarded with trade offers, but have yet to have any formal discussions on the matter. However, the offers are getting better as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are dangling their best assets in a deal.
Yahoo! Sports has reported that after denying their availability, the Golden State Warriors are offering up Klay Thompson while the Cleveland Cavaliers are dangling No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Wiggins. Both players are easily the best young assets for either team's roster and some NBA general managers have deemed them too valuable to trade. However, Love is the most marquee player either available or soon to be available and any team that gets him immediately jumps to the top of the projected standings for 2014.
According to Joe Kotoch of ProBasketballDraft.com, the Timberwolves are favoring a deal involving Thompson more than one with Wiggins. Despite Wiggins being taken No. 1 overall this past June, Thompson is the better deal simply because he is proven in the league and a capable starter. There is still a lot of unknown surrounding Wiggins. He had his ups and downs in his one season with Kansas. No one knows for sure if he will pan out as an immediate starter in the NBA. Anthony Bennett was taken No. 1 overall and he never saw starting time for Cleveland last season.
The Warriors do have the better trade package, especially if they are including Thompson. They could either offer up David Lee or Harrison Barnes alongside the guard which is certainly not a bad offer. The Cavaliers would be pairing either Anthony Bennett or Tristan Thompson and possibly Dion Waiters alongside Wiggins. The Warriors are giving up players that have already proven themselves.
However, there is the issue of Love's expiring contract. Does the forward favor teaming up with LeBron James for several seasons or playing with the Warriors? According to ESPN.com, James has already reached out to Love regarding his interest in a long-term contract with the team. The Cavaliers are not going to want a one-season rental if they are giving up Wiggins to get them.
Love could easily remain on the Minnesota roster for the entire and these trades could all just be talk for nothing. However, Love intends to test the market and wants his next contract to be with a winning franchise. The Timberwolves have not made the playoffs since Love has been with them which does not speak well to their chances of re-signing him.