NBA Draft Rumors: Did Timberwolves give Zach LaVine a draft promise?
All of the talk surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves has revolved around the potential trade of power forward Kevin Love and with good reason.
More from Minnesota Timberwolves
- NBA Rumors: When to expect Karl-Anthony Towns trade talks to heat up
- NBA rumors: Karl-Anthony Towns trade talks will heat up in February
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
- NBA rumors: 4 teams not named Heat or Nets engaged on Damian Lillard trade
- 2023 NBA Free Agency: 5 underrated deals that could shift NBA landscape
Love is one of the game’s elite players and if he wants out, the Timberwolves will have to deal him before the 2015 trade deadline or they could be left with nothing. The Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, among many others, are interested in Love.
However, the Timberwolves have other work to do this offseason and it will start Thursday night when they make the 13th-overall selection in the first round of the NBA Draft.
According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the Timberwolves have given a promise to former UCLA Bruins’ swingman Zach LaVine.
NBA draft rumor: Multiple league sources believe that Zach LaVine has a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 13.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 25, 2014
Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press believes the Timberwolves do indeed have interest in LaVine, but does not think any promise has been given.
Done a lot of digging on TWolves alleged promise to Zach LaVine. Find no evidence to support that. Believe they do have interest in him
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 25, 2014
LaVine measured in at 6’5.75 and 181 pounds with a wingspan of 6’8.25 at the NBA’s Scouting Combine. He averaged 94. points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 69.1% from the free throw line for the Bruins last season. He is ranked as the 13th-best prospect according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express while ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks him as the 14th-best prospect.