The Timberwolves, Cavaliers and 76ers are expected to complete a three-team trade on Saturday. The move will a long awaited trade that will send Kevin Love to Cleveland for this year’s top pick Andrew Wiggins.
The teams have had to wait to finalize the deal, due to an NBA rule that prevents rookies from being traded within 30 days of signing their rookie contracts.
The foundation of the trade included Love going to Cleveland for Wiggins, last year’s top pick Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick. Multiple reports, which have been solidified by Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, say the Wolves will end up with Wiggins, Bennett and Philadelphia’s talented 26-year-old forward Thaddeus Young, whom Minnesota will give up the following for.
As @JerryZgoda 1st reported, Minny's Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved and Heat '15 1st-rounder go to 76ers for Thad Young. Deal done Saturday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 22, 2014
Considering that Love was going to opt out of his contract at the end of the season anyway and they were looking to unload a few contracts the Wolves seem to be getting a lot in return for Love.
For Flip to get Wiggins, Bennett AND Thad for Love (who was leaving), Shved, Moute and Miami's No. 1, hard to how he could've done better
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) August 21, 2014
Wiggins has been considered the center-piece of the trade, some believe the rookie could be a future star in the making. Young was solid in Philadelphia last season, averaging nearly 18 points and six rebounds per game. Bennett, who was the top pick in 2013, averaged 4.2 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Up until earlier Thursday most of the reports thought Minnesota would send Bennett and the first round pick to the 76ers for Young, but Timberwolves beat writer for the Star Tribune Jerry Zgoda said fans shouldn’t believe it.
Just a reminder: if you keep reading Bennett is headed to Philly for Young in forthcoming trade…don't believe it.
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) August 20, 2014
The Wolves have done this before, though. The Pioneer Press remembers 2007 when the Wolves traded Kevin Garnett to Boston.
Minnesota got five players and two first-round draft picks when they sent Kevin Garnett to Boston in July 2007. The Celtics got an NBA title in 2008; the Timberwolves, as their fans well known, got nowhere.
Since then, the Wolves are on their fifth head coach, third front-office boss and no playoff appearances. Yet they’re again on the verge of trading one of the NBA’s best players as soon as Saturday.
1500 ESPN notes the trade will leave Minnesota with two nice pieces to build around with Ricky Rubio and a mid-20s veteran who could be a good fit for them.
While there is little doubt the trade will turn Cleveland into one of the favorite’s in the Eastern Conference.
