The Kevin Love trade talks are now down to details, as the Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Love and now the team is looking to offload some salary and names like Kevin Martin, JJ Barea, Corey Brewer and Alexey Shved could be involved in the trade from the Wolves side once it goes down at the end of August.
The trade cannot be completed until August 23 or after since the Cavaliers signed Wiggins to a rookie contract and now they are the last team standing over the Chicago Bulls. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Love trade likely will involve a combination of Martin, Barea and Brewer from the Timberwolves and possibly other players so that Minnesota can dump salary and it also could lead to a third team joining the deal. ESPN.com writes that Thaddeus Young could be a target for the 76ers to replace Love and since Philly has so much cap space, they could come in as the third team.
Reports from the Sporting News and AP were conflicting about the addition of Brewer at first, but it looks like he will NOT be part of the trade involving Love. The AP writes that Brewer will be staying in Minnesota and the main two players to move are Martin and Barea, but the Cavaliers may have to get creative to get it done. The team has already acquired players from Utah with non-guaranteed contracts to get the deal done and it's likely a third team will get involved.
The Cavaliers won out over the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors, as the Wolves felt that the package with Wiggins was the best of the three teams. The Cavaliers originally offered Anthony Bennett and Dion Waiters along with a first round pick, but the Wolves wanted Wiggins and eventually the Cavs relented. The Timberwolves wanted Klay Thompson the most out of anyone of the three teams, but the Warriors did not want to put him in the deal. Golden State offered Harrison Barnes and David Lee in the deal, but the team wanted Thompson and the Warriors did not relent.
The Timberwolves don't want to trade Love, but he has made it clear that he wants to hit the market and they have no choice but to try and get something for him. Last season Love scored over 25 points per game and 12 rebounds and also factored into the MVP race and now it's not a matter of if, but when he will be moved. Later in August the two teams should complete the deal and that will come once the 30 day limit expires for Wiggins to be traded after he signed his deal.
