The Kevin Love trade rumors are heating up and now the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are battling to get the Minnesota Timberwolves star and names like Andrew Wiggins, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Anthony Bennett, Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler could be part of a potential package for the Wolves.
The Cavaliers are optimistic that a deal will get done, but now that Chicago is back in the mix it could be a battle between the two sides to propose a better package. According to ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein, the Bulls are willing to trade Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic along with a draft pick for Love and it's likely one or two other players also could get moved. ESPN.com reports that the Bulls are serious about making a deal and they also could be looking at a trade with Taj Gibson or Jimmy Butler to get the deal done.
Love has been the main trade target for teams this offseason and early on the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Lakers, Knicks and Golden State Warriors were considered targets and now it looks to be between Chicago and Cleveland. The Cavaliers at first did not want to trade Andrew Wiggins, but eventually they relented on that and included him in the deal. Wiggins has amazing potential, but he has not played in the NBA yet and the Cavs know what Love can bring. Reports say the Wolves want NBA ready players and that is one reason why the Cavs are worried about the deals from the Bulls and Warriors.
Cleveland first offered Minnesota Dion Waiters and Anthony Bennett with a first round pick, but the Wolves wanted a deal around Wiggins. Some in the NBA think that Minnesota was trying to drive the price up on Love and while the Warriors did not bite on Thompson, the Cavs did on Wiggins. While Cleveland looks to be the favorite for a deal now, Chicago is a major threat because of the package they have put together.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls are battling for Love and that adds even more intrigue to a stacked central division. The Bulls signed Pau Gasol this offseason while Cleveland brought LeBron James back home and that doesn't even factor in that the Indiana Pacers were the best team in the east last season. Love will be the top player on the free agent market if he makes it there and teams will be going hard at him no matter what happens and that leaves the Wolves to find what they can for him as they decide on trading him or not.
The Golden State Warriors looked like they would get a deal done near the draft, but the two sides could not agree on compensation. The Timberwolves want Klay Thompson in any deal with Golden State and so far the team has been unwilling to put him in, as they do not want to break up the backcourt duo of Thompson and Stephen Curry. The Warriors have offered a package with David Lee, Harrison Barnes and a first round pick, but Minnesota was interested in getting Thompson.
