The 2014 NBA Draft is a mere five days away, which has put the rumor mill in full swing. With Kevin Love reportedly intent on making his way out of Minnesota come 2015 when he’s eligible to become a free agent, the Timberwolves are rumored to have engaged in trade talks for their All-Star power forward.
Courtesy of Klay Thompson’s father and former Los Angeles Laker, Mychal, rumors of a potential Love trade to the Golden State Warriors gained some traction. As stated by Mychal, the Warriors would send Thompson, David Lee and a future first round draft pick in exchange for Love and Kevin Martin.
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However, according to Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News, the Warriors do not intend on including Thompson in any deal:
The first stumbling block: The Warriors are making it clear to everyone in the league, including Minnesota president Flip Saunders, that they very much do not want to part with Klay Thompson, the key part of any Minnesota demand.
Furthermore, the Warriors also have no desire to take back Martin and his contract:
Second big stumbling block: The Warriors have zero desire to take back expensive, no-defense shooting guard Kevin Martin in the deal, the source said.
In place of Thompson, Kawakami reports the Warriors instead wish to center their offer around Harrison Barnes and Lee. Adding another wrinkle to any potential deal between the Timberwolves and Warriors is the Lakers attempting to lure the Warriors with their No. 7 pick in exchange for Thompson.
The Lakers involvement, according to Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times, would be as part of a three-team trade that would help facilitate a Love to Warriors trade. While the Lakers have held recent workouts for draft prospects, some of which returned for a second look, they appear to also be actively pursuing trades for their first-round pick.
Love is also considered to be a player the Lakers are interested in acquiring and while being involved in a trade in which they don’t land him isn’t an ideal scenario, the hope could be he still enters the free agent market in the summer of 2015 and eventually makes his way to Los Angeles.
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