The Kevin Love trade talks are starting up again this offseason, as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have shown interest and right now the Warriors remain the front runners for trading with the Timberwolves, but the hang up is Klay Thompson, as GS doesn't want to send him and instead offered Harrison Barnes and David Lee along with a first round pick.
The Timberwolves have been patient regarding the Love trade talks and they have stuck to their guns, asking for Thompson in any deal with the Warriors and Andrew Wiggins in a deal with Cleveland. According to ESPN.com, Cleveland has re engaged in talks with the Wolves after LeBron James came home and they have offered a combination of Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett and first round picks but they say Wiggins is off limit.
Love has been mentioned in trade rumors since the offseason started, saying that he is looking to test the market on free agency when he gets the chance and that will be in the summer of 2015. The Wolves are hoping to make one last run at signing him to an extension, but Love has made it clear he wants to see what else is out there on the market. Teams like the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have been mentioned as potential destinations, but Minnesota is in no rush to make a move.
The Timberwolves may lose some leverage the longer this goes on, but they would rather wait and see what they can do with Love next season before pulling the trigger, but that of course depends on the Warriors keeping Thompson out of the deal. ESPN writes that the Warriors are torn between putting in Thompson and making the deal and they right now have Thompson off the table, as they see the combination of him and Steph Curry as an all-time duo. The Warriors have a strong team without Love, but adding him surely will make them favorites or at least one of them in the west.
The Cavaliers have also jumped into the fold and while they have not been willing to give up Wiggins, the Timberwolves could relent as the season goes on. The Cavs have a renewed sense of hope with James coming back and they have some young players to deal, including Bennett, Tristan Thompson and Waiters, but so far Minnesota has not been impressed. Love said that he would be "intrigued" by Cleveland and that comes after reports from earlier in the offseason aid that Love did not want to go there.
Love has been one of the most consistent young players in the league and he averaged over 25 points and 12 rebounds last season and now could be the centerpiece of a blockbuster. The Warriors feel that adding Love will put them ahead of the San Antonio Spurs and OKC Thunder, while the Cavaliers see the move as thrusting them as the odds on favorites in the east. The Cavs obviously will be improved with James, but they are not a championship team yet.
