The Kevin Love rumors are beginning to pour through the NBA pipeline, with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics already being mentioned as potential landing spots. Add the Cleveland Cavaliers to the mix, too. A league source told Pro Basketball Draft that the Cavaliers are looking to deal Tristan Thompson. The team could create a package including Thompson, as well as Anderson Varejao and draft picks, all in an effort to acquire Love from Minnesota.
With the news that @kevinlove will test the market next summer keep an eye on Cleveland. The Cavs have assets to pull off a deal w/ Wolves. — Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) May 18, 2014
Cavs will move Tristan Thompson this summer according to a source and could combine him with Anderson Varejao & picks. — Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) May 18, 2014
Per league source Cavs look to trade Tristan Thompson. Key in probable trade is Cavs know Thompson requires a deal on par w/ Favors & Monroe — Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) May 19, 2014
As reported by Pro Basketball Draft, a trade including Thompson would require the Timberwolves — or any other interested team — to sign Thompson to a long-term deal in the same realm of what Derrick Favors and Greg Monroe may receive when they hit free agency. In October, Favors agreed to a four-year, $49 million extension with the Utah Jazz. Monroe, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, is reportedly seeking a max deal on the open market. Thompson, 23, just wrapped up his third season as a pro. He averaged 11.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and shot almost 48 percent from the floor. He has started a full 82 games each of the past two seasons. Over the weekend, Thompson voiced his frustration with the Cavaliers after the team fired Mike Brown and will prepare for a third head coach in as many years. Per the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:
“It’s the business of basketball. Whenever you lose someone or someone leaves the family it’s tough, but like I tell young guys: It’s the business of basketball, you always have to prepare for anything, that’s why you have to keep working on your game every day and keep getting better.” Thompson admitted the changes were frustrating. “But everyone has their own adversity,” he said. “I guess my adversity is having different situations, but it’s part of the game of basketball. The only thing we can control is getting better, myself, Kyrie [Irving], Dion [Waiters], all our young guys, Anthony [Bennett], so next year we’ll be a better team.”
If the Cavs want to use Thompson to try and bring Love to Cleveland, they best keep their fingers crossed entering Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Cavaliers have the ninth-best odds (1.7 percent) to win the 2014 lottery and an 81.32 percent shot at winding up with the No. 9 selection.
