More on Love: Timberwolves star wants trade | Celtics in mix
UPDATE: The Houston Rockets are also reportedly in the mix for Love, per Yahoo:
Another contender planning aggressive play for a Kevin Love trade, sources tell Yahoo: Houston. Kevin McHale has strong bond with Love.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 18, 2014
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Kevin Love has no interest in signing an extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and would like his next team to be a title contender, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne. Specific teams mentioned were the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls:
Sources told ESPN.com that the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls are among the potential trade destinations that intrigue Love.
The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks have likewise been mentioned all season as big-market landing spots that would tempt Love, but going to the best situation for immediate contention is said to be the power forward's priority.
Sources say that the Phoenix Suns, armed with several draft assets to offer Minnesota, also have strong interest in trading for Love, but the 25-year-old's interest in joining the Suns is unclear.
Love has reportedly not demanded a trade -- he wants to avoid this becoming a Dwight Howard-like situation, according to the Associated Press' Jon Krawczynski -- but the message is essentially that Minnesota has to move him or it will end up losing him for nothing.
According to ESPN, Love has told the Wolves that "he's desperate to get to a winning situation and that the constant losing has worn on him." That's why Golden State, in particular, appeals to him.
Minnesota president Flip Saunders has a tough task ahead of him. He and owner Glen Taylor still would like to figure out a way to keep Love, and they should -- he is a legitimate superstar. After Tuesday's draft lottery, though, the Wolves should have some concrete offers involving high draft picks coming their way. With Love seeming so steadfast about wanting to go to a winner, the deals they get in the near future could be the best ones.
For Love, some sort of compromise might make the most sense. The Warriors and Bulls might not have the requisite assets to make a trade work. The Lakers and Knicks likely won't be contending for a while, and the same goes for the Celtics, mentioned in Yahoo Sports' report. Rather than going to a team that is already a powerhouse, Love could have to settle for one that is building toward that.
The uncertainty arounding the franchise player has complicated Minnesota's search to find a new head coach.
