Kevin Love is about to get his wish. The Timberwolves and Cavaliers have agreed to a trade in principle that would send Love to Cleveland for a package headlined by rookie Andrew Wiggins, according to Brian Windhorst in a radio appearance with Chris Broussard and Ryan Ruocco. The deal can officially be completed on Aug. 23 when Wiggins will no longer to bound by a rule that says players cannot be traded for 30 days following the signing of a new contract.
Cavaliers, Timberwolves have ‘handshake agreement’ for a Kevin Love trade, per report
Love is on the verge of spending next season alongside LeBron James in Cleveland.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall selection from the 2013 draft, is also reportedly involved in the deal, but he may not be sticking in Minnesota. Bennett could be re-routed to Philadelphia in a trade that would send Thaddeus Young to the Timberwolves.
“The deal is done, but not done,” Windhorst said. “The teams have agreed, but they can’t say they have agreed and they can’t agree because we are in this weird moratorium period. Because you can’t trade Andrew Wiggins until the 23rd of this month.”
Windorst says that in the 19-day period before the trade can become official, it is possible a team could swoop in and get Love with a superior offer. The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors have been the two other teams most closely tied to Love. Chicago can't offer a player with Wiggins' perceived long-term potential while Golden State has been hesitant to include 24-year-old shooting guard Klay Thompson in a package for Love.
Love has not been shy about his intentions to explore the free agent market a year from now when he can opt out of his contract. LeBron James reportedly wants Love in Cleveland, and has not reached out to Wiggins since deciding to return to the Cavaliers. Neither Wiggins nor Bennett were named in James' letter in Sports Illustrated when he talked about the young talent in Cleveland he's excited to play with.
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