After a quiet couple of weeks, the Mavericks are suddenly making some noise, while the Lakers have decided they can't wait. Dallas and Los Angeles are attempting to piece together trade offers for Minnesota big man Kevin Love, but so far the Timberwolves aren't biting on anything, Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported.
NBA trade rumors: Kevin Love targeted by Lakers, Mavericks
Despite this, Flip Saunders is unlikely to pull the trigger on any Love deal before the deadline.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
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Love will be a free agent during the summer of 2015, and it’s been widely speculated that he wants to be in a major market, with L.A. being the top choice on his list. Given that he’s a Southern California native, the theory made sense. It will take a pile of assets to land the All-Star, and even then it would be risky given his impending free-agent status.
Berger’s report also stated that Minnesota president Flip Saunders will be the one to pull the trigger on the deal if it happens, but that those familiar with Saunders’ strategy say there is “no way” he will deal Love by the deadline.
Also, this:
Something to remember with all the Kevin Love/LAL buzz: Lakers can't put 2014 first-rounder in trade package, by league rule.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) February 18, 2014 In accordance with the NBA’s Stepien Rule, teams can’t send away future first-round picks in consecutive years, and the Lakers have already dealt their 2015 pick to Phoenix. Though there may be a way around this if the teams swap first-rounders.
Love is fourth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points per game and second in rebounding at 13.2 a night.
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