Western Notes: Love, Parsons, Suns, Payne

The trade speculation around the TimberwolvesKevin Love is heating up. Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders examines the different teams involved, what they have to offer in a trade, and which franchise would be the best fit for Love. In the same article, Ingram also looks at Chandler Parsons‘ option situation with the Rockets, and why they might be willing to let him test the free agent market.

More from around the league:

  • Ricky Rubio spoke with Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (video link) about the Timberwolves offseason, Flip Saunders becoming the head coach, and Love‘s future with the franchise.
  • The Suns are gaining a reputation around the league for holding the toughest predraft workouts, reports Scott Bordow of AZ Central. Of their reputation, GM Ryan McDonough said, “We’ve had a number of agents tell us this is one of the toughest workouts — if not the toughest workout — on the predraft circuit. We take pride in that. We want our guys to be really well conditioned. If we want to try to get up and down the floor and lead the league in fast-break points and run teams out of the gym, you’re going to have to be in shape.”
  • Bordow’s article also notes that the Suns abundance of stretch-fours wouldn’t necessarily prevent the team from drafting Adreian Payne this year. The team already has Channing Frye and Markieff Morris on the roster. “I think the ability to shoot the ball from the power forward position is a strength of ours and I think it helps with our spacing, not only for the ability to make threes but also the ability to space the floor for Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe,” McDonough said. “It’s important. We do have that option with Channing, we do have that option with Markieff as well but the more guys you can slide into that role and not have to change your style of play the better. Especially if they can shoot it well and consistently, which Payne has done over the course of his career.
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