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Kevin Love Would Still Be With Timberwolves If LeBron Didn’t Leave Heat

By Josh Hill

Oct 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 106-100. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 106-100. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Love getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers was the second biggest story of the offseason, but it was more contingent on LeBron James than anyone thought. 

When the Cleveland Cavaliers got LeBron James back this offseason, there was instant talk that they should go out and acquire Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a foregone conclusion that Love would opt out of his contract in Minnesota and test free agency in 2015, so man thought the team should get what they can for him while they can.

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That trade eventually netted the Timberwolves two former No. 1 overall picks and Thaddeus Young — by way of the 76ers.

Flip Saunders talked about the trading of Kevin Love to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, and he noted that had LeBron James not returned to Cleveland this summer a trade likely doesn’t get done.

"“We were in a situation where if LeBron doesn’t go to Cleveland, do we trade [Love]? Probably not. He’s probably still here. But the way it worked out, LeBron went there, and a lot of pieces started to fall into place for Cleveland and it became a very logical thing for them to try to make a push to try to win a championship to get a guy that, ultimately, is one of the two best power forwards in the league, and that became a reality for them."

Had Kevin Love stayed with the Wolves, there likely wouldn’t be much that changed about his situation. He’s happy in Cleveland now — for the most part — but that doesn’t mean he’d be that way in Minnesota. The Wolves made out big on the trade, and the Cavaliers now have one of the best power forwards in the game which is working out less effectively than everyone thought.

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