Kevin Love nixed Golden State Warriors trade?
By Bryan Rose
When the Minnesota Timberwolves first started fielding trade calls for Kevin Love back in June, the Golden State Warriors were among the first teams to show interest. For some time they were thought to actually be the favorite to trade for Love.
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However, the two sides could never find a middle ground and it was reported by multiple outlets that the hangup was the inclusion (or lack of) to trade away Klay Thompson.
Many questioned such however suggesting that Thompson, talented as he is wasn’t enough reason for the Warriors to back out of a deal. Add in that beat reporters close to both franchises suggested that Klay Thompson wasn’t the hold up and there appeared to be something more to the situation than was being reported.
That news may have come out today as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says Kevin Love’s reluctance to agree on an extension was why the deal wasn’t completed.
.@King_Learynidas: just bitter about my Warriors not getting Love --> Blame Kevin. Warriors would have done a deal before the draft.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) August 9, 2014
.@OntarioSF: @King_Learynidas was Love's unwillingness to commit to Warriors long term the reason why deal wasn't done before draft? -> Yes
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) August 9, 2014
It’s a bit odd that Love wouldn’t sign an extension with the Warriors considering he’d be playing in his native California, though maybe he preferred to play further down the coast in Southern California?
Regardless, it appears as if the Golden State Warriors have moved on considering Kevin Love is essentially in the process of being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s already been reported that the Warriors will not make a last ditch effort to acquire Love, which makes sense if they feel he won’t commit to them long-term.
No matter how you slice it, it’s a strange situation considering you’d have thought Love would have been more than happy to play for the Warriors.