http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11320537/kevin-love-trade-cleveland-cavaliers-minnesota-timberwolves-agreement-place

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement in principle to trade Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, 2013 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

According to Yahoo! Sports, which initially reported the agreement, Love has committed to opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with Cleveland next summer for five years and $120 million-plus.

The trade cannot be finalized until Aug. 23 because players cannot be traded until 30 days after signing a new contract. Wiggins signed a rookie contract on July 24.

Sources have told ESPN.com that Love has been highly intrigued by the idea of playing alongside Olympic teammate LeBron James on a full-time basis and is not put off by the fact that James' contract with the Cavs spans only two seasons and includes a player option to return to free agency next summer.

NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas reacted to news of the trade agreement on Twitter by crediting James for his influence in getting Love to Cleveland.

Isiah Thomas        ✔ @iamisiahthomas
Follow
Lebron James best  executive in the NBA!!!
9:54 AM - 7 Aug 2014

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press last weekend that a trade of Love was likely by Aug. 23 or Aug. 24, coinciding with the first day Wiggins can be traded.

Wiggins, when asked Sunday about the uncertainty over his future, told ESPN that he wants to play where he's wanted. The Cavs signed Wiggins to his rookie contract, which averages about $5.5 million annually.

"I just want to play for a team that wants me. So whichever team wants me I'll play for," he told ESPN's "SportsCenter" from Tarrytown, New York, where he was taking part in a photo shoot for Panini trading cards.

Although the Cavs would prefer to keep Wiggins, their interest in Love is understandable given how well the big man's combination of elite rebounding, passing and long-range shooting ability could complement James' game. With Love in addition to James and point guard Kyrie Irving, Cleveland would rank as an undeniable favorite to win the Eastern Conference, something the Cavs managed only once in James' initial seven-season stint with his home-state franchise.

The Twolves are going to be an interesting & entertaining (although I'd assume likely bad) team to watch next season.


This trade makes both teams more interesting & both teams better. But it only makes Minnesota better cause Love was gonna be headed out anyway... now they're able to get a quick start on their future with some very good starting points in Wiggins & Bennett (and LaVine / some of the other young guys they currently have for that matter).

None of Rubio/Levine/Wiggins can shoot tho

I think LaVine is a serviceable enough shooter to go along with his explosiveness. Wiggins seems to do a good amount of everything. True though, they're gonna have to add some shooters somewhere down the line (but for now they're best off with going through a rough season and adding another solid pick). For now, Wiggins/LaVine/Bennett/Rubio and even other guys they have like Pekovic & Dieng are solid building blocks for a good team. It's a matter of, after this season, adding the right experienced guys (you're right: shooters) to fit in with these talented players cause they're also too young & filled with weaknesses.