NBA Rumors: Kevin Love won’t be traded by Timberwolves before draft

If you were hoping to apply your armchair GM skills and use your 2014 NBA draft pick as bait in a potential Kevin Love trade, I have some bad news for you – it’s not going to happen.

At least, that’s the word from the Minnesota Timberwolves who say they will not trade Kevin Love by the NBA Draft.

Rumors broke out this weekend suggesting that Love could be moved, though, no time frame was given as to a potential move.

However, given teams are to know where they’ll be selecting in the upcoming draft by Tuesday evening once the NBA’s Draft Lottery concludes, speculation was that teams could lure Love away by including their 2014 first round draft pick. That doesn’t appear likely according to the Star Tribune.

"The Associated Press, citing two unnamed sources, reported Sunday that, with Tuesday’s draft lottery and the June 26 draft approaching, the Wolves are softening their position that they won’t trade Love and are open to the idea of doing so for the right deal.“Not by the draft,” Taylor said before Sunday’s Lynx home opener at Target Center about such a possibility."

Of course, Taylor and the Wolves have little to benefit from by suggesting they’re looking to move Love in a rushed deal, so it may be nothing more than lip service.

For now though, it does not appear any deal is imminent.