NBA Draft Rumors: One GM believes Timberwolves have to trade Kevin Love

It seems inevitable that the Minnesota Timberwolves and star power forward Kevin Love will soon be parting ways.

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Love has let it be known that he will not be signing an extension with the Timberwolves (or possibly with any team) before the 2014-2015 season ends and plans to become an unrestricted free agent once next season ends. Love will hit the open market when several other all-stars like Portland Trail Blazers’ power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Memphis Grizzlies’ center Marc Gasol will be unrestricted free agents. If the Miami Heats’ big three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade decide to opt in for next season and New York Knick’s forward Carmelo Anthony does the same (although he almost certainly won’t), they will all be free agents as well.

According to Pro Basketball Draft, one NBA general manager believes the Timberwolves have to trade Love on draft night or he will become too much of a distraction.

There are other reasons to trade Love as well. In the tough Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns couldn’t even make the playoffs with a record of 48-34. The Timberwolves really don’t have a bad roster and would be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference, but they don’t have the tools to really improve them enough to get into the postseason.

Love averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game last season while shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.6% from three and 82.1% from the charity stripe.