The Kevin Love trade talks are now centered on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the team now is the last one standing in the Timberwolves search for a partner and that means LeBron James will be getting a superstar teammate and the deal likely will be for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett along with other players, while Minnesota is looking at Thaddeus Young as a potential replacement for Love with the 76ers.
According to ESPN.com, Wolves owner Glen Taylor said that the deal would likely happen in late August, as that is when Wiggins can be traded after signing his rookie contract. Wiggins cannot be traded for 30 days due to that and August 23 is the soonest the deal can happen and now the Wolves are looking a bit defeated, as they have no choice but to trade Love. The star has made it clear he wants out and on top of that, he also said he wants to test the market, so that means no more extensions.
The Cavaliers were battling with the Chicago Bulls for the deal a little earlier in the summer, but now it's just the Cavs, as they had the best package among the Bulls and Golden State Warriors. The Bulls reportedly offered Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic in the deal, but the Cavs wanted more for their superstar and reports had the team wanting Klay Thompson over anyone else, but the Warriors would not give in.
The Cavaliers offered Dion Waiters and Anthony Bennett first, but the Wolves wanted Wiggins and eventually the Cavs relented and offered him. The Warriors did not want to give up Thompson and now Love looks like he will be in Cleveland. The push for Love really started when LeBron James made his decision to come home and now the two will play together after they previously played for USA Basketball and in the Olympics as teammates.
The move will make the Cavaliers the favorites in the east and it comes after Love had one of his best seasons, averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds. Love has spoken about never making the playoffs and now he has the chance to do that. Even if he doesn't sign a new deal, it gives the Cavs what they want: the chance to win a championship. Love has been one of the best players in the NBA and now he will be playing with THE best player in the NBA if the deal goes through.
The Cavaliers now will be the favorites in the east and a three team deal could be coming, as the Timberwolves want to get rid of contracts and salary cap. The team wants to move Kevin Martin and JJ Barea and perhaps other deals and the sixes shave cap space, meaning they could jump in as well. The Sixers have Thaddeus Young and ESPN.com reports that the Wolves may look at him as a replacement for Love. The team also is looking to get nonguaranteed contracts from the Cavs to help clear more space from the cap.
"I'm saying it's most likely because Kevin has made it pretty clear that that's what he wants to do," Taylor told the Pioneer Press, adding that his preference is to keep Love in Minnesota.
