The L.A. Lakers are actively putting together trade packages that include their expected high lottery draft pick they plan to offer the Minnesota Timberwolves for homegrown, All-Star forward Kevin Love.
Love can opt out of his deal with the Wolves at the end of the 2015 season and many now forecast the league’s top rebounding forward already has one foot out the door. Not wanting a repeat of the staggering loss that saw one-time franchise centerpiece Kevin Garnett leave in a similar fashion now more than 10 years ago, Timberwolves’ owner Glen Taylor is on record in insisting he plans to do all he can to keep the still emerging Love in the fold.
But the Wolves will only be able to do so much. And, in fact, their propensity for doing less than they might have may well spell their doom in terms of being able to convince Love to stick around.
Now in his sixth season, Love and the Wolves are yet to have made the postseason and the All-Star big man’s frustrations are mounting as quickly as all the losses have. Prior to this season, the team’s highest win total since drafting Love fifth overall in 2008 was 31 last season.
Sure, when it comes to free agency, the Wolves will be able to offer Love some $30 million more than any other team. But as Dwight Howard showed us all last summer in bolting L.A. for Houston, sometimes it really isn’t just about the money. Besides, if the Lakers get their way the whole issue of free agency could well be rendered moot by then.
The 25-year-old Love is arguably enjoying his best season, averaging a career-high 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. He also has 31 games of scoring at least 30 points and 53 games of double-digit rebounds.
