The Minnesota Dilemma

 

Alright recent rumors floating around have said that Kevin Love no longer wants to be a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves as much as this pains me I did see it coming. I promise I won't cry like I did when KG got traded in 2007 but none the less it is disheartening for Wolves fans to hear their best player no longer wants to play for them. Now the Wolves management has said that they will not trade Love until after the NBA draft in a month. This is stupid, there is no other way to put it, if they are going to trade Kevin Love they have to do it before the draft so they can receive a possible pick in this loaded draft class it is vital for them to do this if they wait till after the draft they won't receive as much based on teams not wanting to trade their newly drafted players. So I've come up with a list of possible landing spots for K-Love and with the help of the ESPN NBA Trade Machine I have figured out a few deals to each of these teams now I'll propose some deals that may work for acquiring Kevin Love





Golden State: I'm just going to assume this is the place K-Love would like to end up the most but it is hard to put together a deal the Wolves will take based on the fact that the Warriors do not have a first round pick in this draft. So the blockbuster deal is really out of the question here but there are two deals that would be interesting to see play out.

Option 1:

Warriors Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: David Lee, Klay Thompson, and a future first rounder from the Warriors
Regardless of what the deal is David Lee has to included in any sort of trade between these two. It would be hard seeing the Wolves doing this based on the fact that they have Kevin Martin signed for the next 4 seasons but I have seen crazier things, that along with probably a higher first rounder from the Warriors doesn't make this deal too tantalizing.

Option 2:

Warriors Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: David Lee, Harrison Barnes, and Draymond Green
This I can see happening Barnes took a step back from his rookie season and the Warriors won't mind letting him go on the other hand Draymond Green improved quite a but over the season and is a cheap commodity for $875,000. This however causes a log jam at the small forward position with Corey Brewer and Chase Budinger but if a deal were to be made with Warriors it would look something like option 2 I'm assuming

 


Chicago: K-Love also wouldn't mind Chicago as a landing spot with Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose coming back (Yikes) the Bulls would be a threat in the East. There is only one option however based on the fact that the Bulls are awfully close to exceeding the luxury tax.

Bulls Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: Mike Dunleavy, Taj Gibson, and Chicago's two first rounders in 2014 (No. 16 & 19)
If this deal were to be made it would give the Wolves the No. 13, 16, and 19th picks in the draft not the most desirable numbers but still a chance to load up on prospects. Taj Gibson is also a very good acquisition for Minnesota he outplayed Carlos Boozer all season in Chicago and he would be very menacing with Ricky Rubio at point.

Knicks: The Knicks have least possible chance to land Love based on the fact that they don't have any assets but an offer that would work is...

Knicks Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, and a future first rounder
If this deal happens I will move to Germany.

Lakers: I have a tough time believing that Love will go here based on the Lakers lack of assets but they do have the #7 pick which could tantalize Minnesota.

Lakers Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: 7th overall pick, future picks, and Robert Sacre
It's hard to structure a deal here based on the fact that the Lakers only have 3 players under contract so the Lakers are unlikely to make the deal.

Suns: I can see him going here the Suns are LOADED with picks they have 3 first rounders this year and a top-5 protected pick next year from the Steve Nash trade.

Suns Receive: Kevin Love
Wolves Receive: 2014 picks No's. 14, 18, and 27, and 2015 first rounder (top 5 protected)
This would give Minnesota 4 first round picks and back to back selections at 13 and 14. Now this would make the Wolves awful for the 2014-15 season but let's say they fail to win 20 games next season. They will more than likely get a top 5 pick along with the top 5 protected pick from Phoenix that would give them two top 5 picks in a draft that is likely to boast such names as Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, Stanley Johnson, Willie Cauley- Stein, and Tyus Jones. Granted if the NBA doesn't change the age limit those players should be in the draft.

 


Celtics: Boston is the most likely landing spot for Love in my opinion they have cap room and assets to give away.

Option 1:
Celtics Receive: Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio
Wolves Receive: Rajon Rondo, Kris Humphries, and No. 6 overall pick
This trade is highly unlikely based in the fact that Minnesota loves Ricky Rubio and would hate to see him go even though if it does mean the Wolves get RAJON RONDO. I'm a Wolves fan through thick and thin but seriously Rubio is not the greatest thing since sliced bread. Is he a great playmaker and on-ball defender? Of course. Is he a serious offensive threat? Absolutely not. He shoots 38% which is nearing Alexey Shved territory (Which is real bad) and GORGUI DIENG has a higher player efficiency rating than him. So there rant over.

Option 2:
Celtics Receive: Kevin Love, Chase Budinger, and Luc Mbah Moute
Wolves Receive: Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger, No. 6 overall pick, Brandon Bass, and Joel Anthony
First off does this look familiar? It seems a lot like the KG deal where Minnesota received 4 ham sandwiches and Al Jefferson before he was "Big Al" yeah it is a lot like that but slightly better. Green is a solid wing presence and Sullinger is developing and has the chance to be solid in the future that number 6 pick could be Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, or Doug McDermott and they still have that No. 13 pick to use. Bass is fading and Anthony hasn't played a minute in like 3 seasons so those are the ham sandwiches in the deal but the other assets are promising. The Wolves also get rid of Budinger and Mbah Moute's expiring contracts and it also prevents a log jam at the Small forward spot. This deal or something similar will be what the Wolves will take for Kevin Love that is if they trade him before the draft.

I should just run the team
-NS (@NolanPSchmidt)