ESPN Report: Kevin Love trade to Cleveland Cavaliers appears "inevitable" as ...

Diposkan oleh silent aja 11:14 PM Post a Comment

According to Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein, it looks like it's only a matter of time before a deal gets done.

In an article for ESPN yesterday, Brian Windhorst wrote about how Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters are preparing themselves to play with their new teammate on the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James. But LeBron wasn't the only new teammate who Windhorst felt was worth mentioning. He also included Kevin Love, and said that signs were 'pointing toward a deal eventually happening.'

Later in the day yesterday, Windhorst's ESPN colleague, Marc Stein, said that the Cavs were the only team currently in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves about Love.

ESPN sources say Wolves currently only in talks w/Cavs on Love deal; Bulls essentially moving on and GSW still not giving up Klay Thompson

- Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 31, 2014

An article authored by both Windhorst and Stein used the word 'inevitable':

The Minnesota Timberwolves were engaged in serious Kevin Love trade talks with no teams other than the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, adding to the growing belief around the NBA that Love teaming up with LeBron James is inevitable, according to sources briefed on the situation.

According to that article, the hypothetical trade would indeed include number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins, who cannot officially be traded until August 23:

With three weeks to go until Wiggins is eligible to be swapped for Love, one source said Wednesday that James himself already is 'looking forward' to the prospect of welcoming the All-Star power forward as his newest teammate. Yet league officials are adamant that there can be no acknowledgement of a trade, from either the Wolves or the Cavaliers, until the 30 days pass from Wiggins' signing.

If the Bulls are truly 'moving on,' and the Warriors continue to cling to Klay Thompson, that really hampers Minnesota's leverage. If the Cavs are the only serious suitor for Love at the moment, that makes it that much tougher for them to feel like they have to give up their most prized asset.

But at the end of the day, I still think the Cavs' chances of hanging on to Wiggins are very slim. Maybe they can figure out a way to bring a third team into the trade to help get the Wolves some of the players they're looking for, but that makes things much more complicated and therefore much less likely.