According to multiple NBA sources, the Philadelphia 76ers are involved in the trading of Kevin Love. It was believed that Anthony Bennett would be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 76ers while Thaddeus Young was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, is it the done deal that was first reported? Now conflicting reports are surfacing saying Bennett might not be headed anywhere after the deal.
According to Jerry Zgoda of the Minnesota Star Tribune, it is not a guarantee that Bennett is headed to Philadelphia. It is already known that Andrew Wiggins and Bennett will be headed to Minnesota along with a first-round draft pick in exchange for Love. However, given the amount of salary cap space and transactions the 76ers have been involved in this summer, many assumed they were the third team involved in the trade.
Zgoda believes that the Timberwolves actually prefer to rebuild the franchise with Bennett over Young, but still might attempt to acquire Young in a separate deal. Some NBA analysts believe that Bennett has a very high ceiling in the league. His rookie season could not have gone worse. He averaged just 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting just 35.6 percent from the field. However, Bennett was a No. 1 overall draft pick for a reason and the Timberwolves believe improvement could be possible.
Tom Moore of Calkins Media is reporting that the Timberwolves have interest in Young no matter what, but they might not give up Bennett to get the forward. Moore is reporting that if the 76ers cannot land Bennett in a trade, general manager Sam Hinkie might look to send Young to the Timberwolves in exchange for young players. Philadelphia appears to favor loading up their roster with youth and could target players like Luc Mbah a Moute or Alexey Shved.
Young has two years remaining on his contract with a player option for 2015. Philadelphia is operating under the idea that Young is headed elsewhere next summer. He is one of the better young forwards in the league and plenty of teams will be looking for him. Philadelphia has no intentions of letting him walk for nothing in return, so a trade to the Timberwolves makes sense.
No one will know the details of the Love trade until Wiggins officially becomes available at the end of August. After signing his rookie contract, he was not allowed to be traded for 30 days, so any del put in place was just a handshake agreement and nothing formal.