The Kevin Love trade rumors have started already well before the summer free agency period and teams like the NY Knicks are making a push and they could trade Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler to get him, while the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns all could be in the mix as well and this is an option over free agent to be Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks have some big decision to make, as they want to keep Anthony, but he may not want to stay and they will need a plan B. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Phil Jackson is making a push with Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler to get a deal done, as the team seed Love as the future of the franchise and a cornerstone superstar. The Bulls will likely have to move Carlos Boozer to get a deal done, while the Suns and Celtics have draft picks to move.
Love has been very consistent since coming into the league and he averaged a double-double again last season and also factored into the MVP voting. The Knicks are an option, but the Warriors may have the most talent to give, while the Celtics can make a move with their draft picks. The Rockets are going after Anthony and that could spark moves here for the Knicks as they position themselves past summer 2014 and beyond with Jackson.
The Timberwolves will have some major questions to consider this offseason, as they have Kevin Love coming into what could be the last year of his contract with his opt out coming next summer in 2015. The Timberwolves likely will wait to see if the team is in contention heading into the trade deadline next season before making any moves with Love, but there's always a chance one team will floor them with a proposal this summer. Love and the Timberwolves are in a similar situation that Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard had with the Nuggets and Magic, as the teams had to weigh whether to trade their stars for something or risk losing them for nothing as free agents.
Love has been the most talked about player in the league when it comes to trades over the past two years, as he has been stuck in Minnesota and out of the playoffs as one of the best players in the league and as evidenced by the past moves by teams, it's very unlikely he remains there. Love is the main target for teams looking to build around a superstar and ever since he signed his contract extension with the Wolves, teams have been waiting for the summer of 2015 when he is a free agent and because of that, some teams are looking to get the jump on Love with the Wolves this summer.
Morey has to decide on what to do with Parsons, as he was the main target in a proposed trade with the Celtics for Rajon rondo and if he explores that again, he likely will have to give him up. On top of that, Parsons can be a restricted free agent now or an unrestricted free agent next year and that will play into what Morey does as well. Love is set to become a free agent next summer after signing his extension with the Timberwolves and of the team holds onto him during the summer, the trade deadline becomes the next big date on the calendar. The Wolves likely will trade Love if they are out of contention next season, as they want to make sure they get something in return for him, ala what the Nuggets and Magic did with Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.
Love averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds last season and now his career numbers are 19 points and 12 rebounds per game and on top of that he also had an impressive .4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks. The biggest thing for Love was staying healthy this season and he was able to do that after playing in just 18 games last year, playing in over 70 games this past season. Love has been in the league for six years and this was the most amount of games he has played in since he was a rookie, so anyone worried about his health can forget about that now.
Marc Stein from ESPN.com reported that the Celtics could actually be a real player for Love depending on how this summer plays out for the team, while the Houston Rockets are another one to watch, as they could be motivated to make a move after losing in the playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets have the pieces to move with Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik and while they are high priced players, they are on expiring contracts and that could give the team enough to make a move. The Rockets will likely have to give up Chandler Parsons in any move they make, but the team may think that is worth it to get a player like Love in the fold.
