The Kevin Love trade rumors are onto the Cleveland Cavaliers and now it appears a deal is all but official, as the two sides have agreed and now Love will sign a five year deal worth $120 million with the Cavs and this will be for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett in their package to the Minnesota Timberwolves and as the deadline comes up for the deal, things could get interesting if the Golden State Warriors want to trade Klay Thompson, but it looks too late for that now.
Love is the top young player on the trade market and he is coming off of his best season in his six years with the Timberwolves and he has made it clear he wants to test the market if the Wolves don't trade him this summer. According to ESPN.com, the Cavaliers and Wolves have a handshake agreement about the deal involving Wiggins, but recent reports have the Warriors potentially interested again in making the trade.
The Cavaliers won out the competition by offering Andrew Wiggins along with Anthony Bennett and a first round pick and that came after their original offer with Dion Waiters. The Cavs tried to get it done without Wiggins but Minnesota was not having any of that and now it looks like it will be Wiggins as the centerpiece of this blockbuster deal along with Love. The Cavaliers are a young team and that is why it could be massive if they get a veteran forward with the skills of Love, as he is a double-double machine and while he hasn't been in the playoffs, that's been more about the Timberwolves than the way he has played over the past six years.
Cleveland has been active in free agency and they have added Mike Miller and James Jones and they also are looking at Ray Allen, who is deciding between the Cavs and retirement. If the Cavaliers officially pull off the deal for Love, expect Allen to heavily consider that option since he is looking to add another championship to his resume after already winning with LeBron in Miami. The Timberwolves felt they had no choice but to traded Love, as he made it clear he wants to hit the free agent market when he gets the chance and that means likely leaving the Wolves. Love is a 26 point and 12 rebound player from last season and he will turn the tide in the east if he is officially moved.
The Golden State Warriors were the first team in deep talks with the Timberwolves and those started up around the NBA draft and included talk about picks and players. Things continued and the Timberwolves made it clear they wanted Thompson over anyone else. Golden State did not want to give up Thompson and instead offered David Lee and Harrison Barnes, but that was not a good enough package for Minnesota.
The Chicago Bulls jumped in on the action this summer as well but they were pushed back by the Cavaliers and their offer for Wiggins. The Bulls had a solid offer with Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic, but the Timberwolves felt that if they were going to trade for rookies, they might as well go for Wiggins. The Bulls made a strong push and they should still be fine even without Kevin Love, as they are getting back a healthy Derrick Rose and signed Pau Gasol this summer.