NBA Rumors: Kevin Love won’t be moved before the draft
Minnesota Timberwolves’ star power forward Kevin Love has been the center of attention in the NBA over the last week or so (although he may have been dethroned by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night). Love is not going to sign an extension with the Timberwolves, at least not right now, so the league’s other 29 teams are going to do whatever they can do to get their hands on him.
With plenty of teams with assets and cap space picking in the lottery, including the Boston Celtics, who hold the sixth-pick and Love’s hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers, who hold the seventh pick, many believe a trade could go down soon.
According to salary cap guru Larry Coon of ESPN and Basketball Insiders, there is absolutely no way that is going to happen.
Kevin Love is NOT getting traded before the draft. Sorry, Bill.
— Larry Coon (@LarryCoon) May 21, 2014
It's gonna take an imbalanced trade, and teams won't have the cap room for it until July. RT @Lord__Baltimore why not?
— Larry Coon (@LarryCoon) May 21, 2014
Amnesty can't happen until July. RT @chieli11 even if an amnesty is involved (Boozer)?
— Larry Coon (@LarryCoon) May 21, 2014
In others teams have to wait for free agency to begin so salary comes off of the books and that happens after the draft.
Love averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game last season.