Kevin Love Warriors Trade With Timberwolves: ESPN’s Chad Ford Tells Bill Simmons ‘A Deal Is Going To Happen’ (Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via TrappedInGoldenState/Chanll/SportsTalkFlorida)
Monday (June 23, 2014) on Bill Simmons‘s podcast, The BS Report, ESPN’s “Draft Insider” Chad Ford reported that the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves have already agreed in principle to trade three-time All-Star Kevin Love to the Dubs.
“A deal is going to happen. They have agreed on principles. They have agreed on Kevin Love and Klay Thompson,” Ford reported, “They are fighting over draft protection and draft picks, whether Harrison Barnes will or won’t be in there, whether (point guard J.J.) Barea will or won’t be in there.
“My experience is when you got the principles down — and these two teams want the principles on each side, there is no question that Minnesota wants Klay Thompson and Golden State wants Kevin Love,” Ford added, “There is no question Kevin Love wants to go to Golden State. So, his agent is pushing and I think it’s not a surprise Klay Thompson wants to go to Minnesota because he knows he can get a bigger contract there instead of Golden State who doesn’t have the money to throw huge money his way. I think you’re going to see a deal at some point. That’s the best deal both teams will get.”
Ford also reiterated these sentiments on ESPN LA 710AM radio this morning, as reported by Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group.
According to Ford, the Timberwolves want the deal to happen with the Warriors because, “It’s one of those things where if (Minnesota general manager and self-appointed head coach) Flip Saunders is going to coach this team, he doesn’t want a coach a bunch of rookies and the be the worst team in the NBA. He wants to be a playoff team. Unfortunately, every single team in the west wants to be a playoff team, which means intense completion there.”
As we discussed earlier after Golden State’s season ended, David Lee would be part of the deal and is viewed as an asset who can contribute immediately, that can help the Timberwolves avoid a rebuilding phase.
Other details of this potential trade were summarized by Leung:
Ford said the Warriors don’t have major objections to a trade for Love in which they give up Klay Thompson and Lee and take back guard Kevin Martin, but they don’t necessarily want to also trade forward Harrison Barnes or take back guard J.J. Barea, who is owed $4.5 million in the final year of his contract. The Warriors also don’t want to give up a future first-round pick, especially one without protections, according to Ford.
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But that could change if the Warriors decide to get involved in Thursday’s NBA draft and can reach agreement on a deal that lands them the rights to the player the Timberwolves pick at No. 13 overall.
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“I think there are some players that intrigue them there,” Ford said. “I think they’re willing to maybe take back some of those things – giving a future first-round pick maybe giving up Barnes — if they can get the Wolves’ pick at No. 13.”
Simmons said the acquisition of Love for the Warriors was a no-brainer.
“If Golden State can make a trade that ultimately gives them Kevin Love and Stephen Curry then they have to do it,” Simmons said, “It won’t win them a title next year because they will be too bad defensively, but long-term you have to make that trade.”
Simmons also threw caution to the wind in regards to Golden State’s front office.
“I’m shocked that Klay Thompson is involved because you know when Steve Kerr took that job he was worried about all the chefs in the kitchen with seven chefs and different opinions on whether Klay Thompson should be in this deal. And from what I’m hearing the owner thinks Klay Thompson should be in this deal, which means Klay Thompson’s to be in this deal.”
Fully expect one of the “chefs”, owner Joe Lacob, to make a big splash.
[NOTE: Riah Brooks contributed to this report.]
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