The Kevin Love trade rumors are continuing through the NBA finals and a new team has joined in, as the Phoenix Suns could be in the mix with Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and their draft picks in the mix to get moved in a deal with the Timberwolves and they are among the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and other teams that have been mentioned in potential deals, including the Sacramento Kings, LA Lakers with Steve Nash, the NY Knicks and Boston Celtics.
Love has been mentioned more than any other player in trade rumors this season and he is coming into the last year of his contract and everyone in the NBA is expecting him to leave Minnesota at some point. According to ESPN.com, Flip Saunders and the Timberwolves are going to try and hold on to Love until they have no other choice and he has said to the media that he wants to test the market eventually and that means he could opt out of his contract next summer if Minnesota doesn't trade him. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Suns could be in the mix since they have multiple first round picks coming up in the future and they also have some players that could interest the Wolves.
Love had made it clear that he wants out of Minnesota and he likely will jump onto the free agent market the first chance he gets next summer. The Wolves have said publically that they do not want to trade Love, but behind the scenes they are working on deals and Flip Saunders said that 16 teams have called asking about a trade. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Love does not want to play in Cleveland and some interesting options in his mind include the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls will need to make moves to have any chance at getting Love, as they will have to trade Carlos Boozer or use the amnesty clause on him and players like Jimmy Butler or Taj Gibson also could be in the mix. The Warriors have moves they can make with players like David Lee, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson on the roster, while the Celtics also have some assets. The team would like to keep Rajon Rondo, but they have players available along with draft picks. That latter addition could be what brings the Suns in, as they have picks and players, including Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Yahoo is reporting that Bledsoe wants a max deal and he is set to be a free agent that is restricted and he averaged 17.7 points last season for an improved Suns. Dragic played very well last season and he could be in the mix as well and the Suns are a wild card now in the whole Timberwolves trade. Love has been the most consistent player in the NBA over the past couple years and he averaged a double-double last season and now will be the most coveted free agent or trade piece in the league heading into next year.
