Kevin Love has told the Timberwolves that he won’t sign an extension with them and teams are already circling the wagons. The Warriors, Lakers, and Suns are among the teams with interest and the Celtics are said to be an increasingly intriguing destination for the All-Star. Meanwhile, Knicks president Phil Jackson has been plotting to acquire Love via trade, so they can be added to the list of possibilities as well. Here’s the latest out of Minnesota..
- If the T’Wolves trade Love and rebuild, it could change their draft situation over the next couple of years, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. The Wolves owe the Suns a first-round draft pick, but it’s top 13 protected in 2014 and top 12 protected in 2015 and 2016. If that happens, the Suns wind up with the Wolves’ 2016 and 2017 second-round picks.
- The Wolves are believed to have met with a number of 2014 NBA Draft prospects at the NBA Draft Combine that are out of their range with their expected 13th pick, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. This could be due diligence on the Wolves’ part, or this could be the beginning stages of accepting that it’s time to move Love while they can still return some value for him and somewhat control the process.
- There’s a right way and a wrong way to trade Love, writes Michael Rand of the Star Tribune. For starters, Minnesota shouldn’t move the forward before hiring their next coach.