Business is likely to pick up again for the Timberwolves if the rumors surrounding all-star forward Kevin Love are true.
NBA teams will find out on Tuesday how they stack up in the NBA’s draft lottery. The lottery could play a big role in any offers for Love.
Reportedly the Lakers will attempt to be in serious pursuit of Love. But the Knicks, Warriors, Celtics, Bulls and Rockets are some of the other teams interested in swinging a deal for him. Some of those teams have the best chances of receiving a top draft pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
But will the Wolves move Love before the draft? Pro Basketball Talk reports Wolves owner Glenn Taylor says no.
That hasn’t stopped the talk from heating up in front of tomorrow’s lottery, reports the Star Tribune’s Michael Rand.
So if the Wolves trade Love when is the best time to do it and what can they expect in return?
1500 ESPN’s Phil Mackey looks back into history to show how trades involving NBA superstars have worked out, over the last decade. Mackey looks at seven deals in the last 10 years, one of those feels eerily similar to this situation.
Kevin Garnett, traded from Minnesota to Boston on July 31, 2007
In this trade, the Wolves received the following:
– PF Al Jefferson (17.2 win shares in Minnesota)
– SF Ryan Gomes (9.8)
– SG Gerald Green (-0.4)… Has now found his place as a 16-point-per-game, 40% three-point-shooter in Phoenix
– C Theo Ratliff (0.3)
– PG Sebastian Telfair (1.7)
– A second round pick – Wayne Ellington (1.5)
– A first round pick – Jonny Flynn (-1.2)Total win shares since the trade:
KG in Boston (48.8 + a title)
Assets in return (28.9)We’d have a different feeling about this trade if David Kahn had selected Steph Curry instead of Jonny Flynn…
According to ESPN, Love is especially intrigued by either Golden State or Chicago. Sources tell ESPN that Love has stressed to the Wolves that he is desperate to get to a winning situation, and that all of the losing has worn on him.
Neither Golden State or Chicago is likely to have a top pick in the draft lottery, so it could be difficult for either to put together a deal attractive enough to entice the Wolves to deal Love.
One potential trade rumor includes a deal involving Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson from Golden State.
So should Love’s future happiness really matter to the Wolves? 1500 ESPN’s Judd Zulgad doesn’t think so.
For Flip Saunders to get the best return for Kevin Love, he must create a market and deal him in swift fashion. http://t.co/cG7Y8rtCPP
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) May 19, 2014
The next few days, weeks and maybe even months are likely to be very interesting for the Wolves and Love as the trade market for him continues to develop.
