The Kevin Love trade rumors have continued through the NBA finals and as the Timberwolves weight their options, teams like the Houston Rockets, NY Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns remain in the mix to pull off a deal with Minnesota, while Flip Saunders and Ricky Rubio have both come out to say they hope Love stays.
The future of Love has been one of the most talked about topics in the NBA since he signed an extension with the team that had an opt out in it for the summer of 2015 and now the trade talk is starting to heat up. According to ESPN.com, the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are two teams that interest Love and other ones that are in the mix include the Warriors, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns. The Suns and the Celtics are in the mix because of the first round picks that they have and the teams also could mortgage the future a bit to get Love now. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Suns could be willing to move Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe to get a deal done, but that article writes that Bledsoe is also looking for a max deal and that could throw a wrench into any plans.
Love has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA over the past few seasons and he comes in after averaging over 25 points and 10 rebounds last year and he also was a factor in MVP voting. Love has made it clear he wants to test the market and that leaves the Wolves in a tough position about whether they want to trade him. Clearly they don't, because no team wants to give up a player like Love, but to build for the future they may not have another choice since he wants to leave. Love signed an extension but got himself an opt out and after not making the playoffs again last year, he clearly is ready to move on.
Owner Glen Taylor doesn't want to trade Love and Ricky Rubio is hoping that he sticks around and teams like the Celtics and Rockets could be in the mix. The Celtics have first round picks that they can use along with players and they also have to work on what they will do long term with Rajon Rondo. The Celtics have a top 10 pick this year that is valuable, but the team likely wants to hang onto that since the class is so talented and they are looking at Aaron Gordon as a target.
The Rockets are in the mix as well, but only if the team makes trades and they will have to move Omer Asik or Chandler Parsons along with Jeremy Lin to get a deal done. Daryl Morey is hoping to make a Big 3 of his own and Love could be the new addition to that. The Knicks and Bulls also could be in the mix and Chicago has names to move like Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer.
