The Kevin Love Safari™

[kovanovich]

Assuming everything goes smoothly, expect a Wiggins/Bennett press conference in Minnesota on Tuesday. Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) August 21, 2014


Pretty striking that the only news we are hearing relevant to the Love trade is from Minnesota sources at this point, and they are (understandably enough) not concerned about the Cleveland angle in the trade.

 

[PeonHaiters]

Since I keep accidentally going to the first page of this thread, Im going to do something incredibly rare: a positive grave dig. Frank, you looked crazy at the time, but you called it two years in advance. Great job pal.

I'd imagine that Kevin Love eventually leaves Minnesota. He seems frustrated, Kahn is an idiot and that team doesn't have a real chance at winning it all. I don't know if he'd ever be a possibility down the road, but he's a blue chip talent. I figured someone here on RCF knows the details of his contract or whatever.

The Cavaliers are positioning themselves to make a big deal in the future and if either Kevin Love or Lamarcus Aldridge become available, we should try to land either one. I'm more inclined to believe that Love leaves Minnesota rather than LMA leaving Portland.

 

[RapsCavs]

Great video by Bballbreakdown that explains and shows that the Cavs can still become a decent defensive team even with two inept defenders of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in their starting lineup

 

[MirORich]

I don't think it's fair to call Kyrie or Love inept defenders. Neither are currently above average or plus defenders.

Kyrie has been in the league 3 years and played 11 games of college ball. He's been on horrible teams where the concept of defensive communication on the court and accountability have not been highly enforced. He's been on teams completely lacking in quality veteran guidance. He is at fault for his lack of effort on the defensive end but as he grows as a player, receives veteran leadership/mentorship and play on a team that is consistently winning, I think he will exhibit the tools and effort to at least be an average individual and team defender. I think the inept defender label will be shed within 1-2 years, if not sooner.

For all Loves defensive documentation, there have been some defensive metrics posted on this board indicating that he is at least not as bad as advertised on defense. Additionally, limiting second chance points, extra possessions for the opponent via defensive possession and keeping the ball away from opponents via offensive rebounds have to count for something when measuring defense as Love is elite at both defensive and offensive rebounding.

History tells us we just need to have a top ten defense to win a championship. Even of we can't accomplish that in year one(I think we can), if there was a team built to defy recent historical trends, it's one that can do the type of things offensively that we will be able to do.

 

[wuck]

From Marc Stein. Echoes the other reports mentioned above.

---
Thaddeus Young part of potential deal
Updated: August 21, 2014, 10:59 PM ET
By Marc Stein | ESPN.com
The Minnesota Timberwolves expect to land Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young in addition to No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins when they complete their long anticipated trade to send Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers this weekend, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves -- either as part of a separate transaction with Philadelphia or by expanding their planned deal with the Cavaliers into a three-team trade -- are already operating under the premise that they are acquiring Young from the Sixers as Love's replacement.

ESPN.com reported in July that Wolves president and coach Flip Saunders had pinpointed Young as his preferred successor at power forward to Love, who can finally be dealt to the Cavaliers on Saturday, when Wiggins becomes eligible to be traded at last.

Although nothing can be finalized before Saturday, sources said Thursday that the Wolves are poised to surrender a future first-round pick along with the expiring contracts of Luc Richard Mbah A Moute and Alexey Shved to the Sixers for Young, who has two seasons left on his deal valued at $19.4 million.

The Wolves, sources said, have already verbally agreed to acquire Wiggins, 2013's No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett and a future first-round pick from the Cavs for Love. Minnesota would then have the option of flipping that first-rounder to Philadelphia, along with Mbah A Moute and Shved, for Young.

The Sixers tried to get Bennett as part of the Young transaction, sources said, but Minnesota was determined to keep the second-year forward to be a key piece in its rebuilding effort despite Bennett's disappointing rookie season as a Cav.

Although the Cavs' 30-day waiting period to move Wiggins ends on a Saturday, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that the teams can indeed schedule a trade call with the league that day despite the fact it's a weekend, meaning the Love trade can be completed at the earliest allowable date.

Sources say that news conferences to introduce Love and Wiggins with their respective new teams are unlikely before next week, after the various players involved in the transactions have had a chance to complete their physicals.

 

[JMcCurry08]

Nice to know the trade will happen this weekend and we don't have to wait until Monday

 

[UncleDrew]

I never been so spoil and happy with off season news as I have this summer....Like someone said we went from being happy with Bennett,Clark,Jack,Bynum, That Russian guy, To James, Miller,Love,Marion, and maybe Allen...Thank you lord, now if Ferry can get off his ass in find us a Center (lol).

Umm..David Griffin not Danny Ferry, spoiler alert.

 

[Tornicade]

Umm..David Griffin not Danny Ferry, spoiler alert.

 

[col63onel]

And so the inevitable countdown continues. Still think it's ridiculous to prolong the cause. I mean, it's guaranteed that it's going to happen.

I've forgotten, what's the 30-day no trade clause for again? Seems like something that should be revisited given these current circumstances.

I can kind of see Adam Silver doing his best "am I the sultan or am I the sultan? From this day forward the princess shall marry whoever she pleases" impression as he abolishes the 30-day no trade rule. They have the power to alter the rule, and while admittedly I'm still not sure why it exists, surely it'll be at the very least up for debate now.

Reccing this because I just re-watched Aladdin after Robin Williams died.

 

[Superman]

Unfortunately I don't know how to embed a tweet but Woj just confirmed the deal will get done on Saturday

 

[AMC]

@WojYahooNBA: @JerryZgoda 1st reported, Minny's Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved and Heat '15 1st-rounder go to 76ers for Thad Young. Deal done Saturday.

@WojYahooNBA: was Anthony Bennett going to Sixers in any Thad Young deal. Always destined to play with Andrew Wiggins in Minny as part of Love deal.

 

[Snarly]

AMC beat me to it. However good to know it has been approved and is set to be done. Wow unreal off season.

 

[Superman]

Haha I feel your pain AMC and Snarly

 

[wuck]

Unfortunately I don't know how to embed a tweet

It will work again soon enough.

 

[s1ced]

Feels Like Christmas eve when I was nine years old again...