With the NBA’s trade deadline looming, rumors about a trade involving Wolves superstar Kevin Love are heating up.
According to CBS Sports, the Lakers and Mavericks are trying to assemble trade offers for Love. So far though, the Wolves have not shown any indication they intend to move him.
Love can become a free agent in 2015. According to the CBS report, it is widely known around the league that Love and his agent are determined to get him to a major market.
The CBS report says the Lakers would be Love’s first choice. Of the teams they may have the best chance at landing the three-time all star.
With Kobe Bryant out indefinitely and the Lakers holding the fourth-worst record in the league, their 2014 first-round pick will have value – but it can only be traded if the Lakers acquire another first-round pick first. Their 2015 first-round pick has been conditionally traded to Phoenix, according to CBS.
Other teams have interest too, in particular Dallas.
The problem with Love going to Dallas is that the Mavericks don’t have enough to offer the Wolves in exchange for him, according to ESPN Dallas.
The Mavericks can’t offer future first-round picks, because they owe Oklahoma City a top-20 protected first-rounder and the team doesn’t have young talent to serve as a centerpiece of a deal, according to the report.
According to the Bleacher Report, trading Love isn’t a sure bet for the Wolves right now either. The Timberwolves are still within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and Love is under contract with the team next season, so a lot could change in that time.
CBS reports a person familiar with Timberwolves President of basketball operations Flip Saunders’ strategy said he has indicated there is “no way” he will trade Love before Thursday’s 2 p.m. deadline.
