2014 NBA Trade Rumors: Kevin Love to the Golden State Warriors

Kevin Love’s monstrous numbers carried Minnesota to some impressive victories in the month of February. Although the Timberwolves started off just 1-6, they finished strong behind the lead of Love. Wins over the Indiana Pacers and rising Phoenix Suns helped quiet anyone who said Kevin Love’s numbers are "just numbers." But when you put into context just how ridiculous his performance last month (and this season) is, it is easy to paint the picture of how the former UCLA star is one of the best players in the NBA today.

Minnesota’s All-Star power forward led the league in the month of February in points (34 per game) and rebounds (14 per game) and also made 3.0 threes per game. He averaged more PPG than three-time scoring champion, Kevin Durant, more RPG than Dwight Howard, and more 3PM per game than sharp-shooter Kyle Korver. In an 11-day (three game) stretch, he hit 17-of-31 threes—at least five in each game. The numbers go on and on, but the outlook is that his career in Minnesota is coming to a close.

According to the 2011 NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams cannot trade until the final game of their season has concluded, but the wheels should already be turning in the Minnesota front office. If they don’t, the Timberwolves risk the same fate that the Lakers had in losing Dwight Howard for nothing…and the fate of the 2014 Knicks as Carmelo Anthony likely bids New York adieu.

Rumors have already swirled around the Lakers maneuvering for Kevin Love. First instincts say it makes sense since Love is both a UCLA alumnus and a Santa Monica native. But when you look at the state of the Lakers courtesy of Kobe Bryant’s huge contract, Love would be re-living a miserable experience in another franchise in the midst of rebuilding. More importantly, Los Angeles has nothing to bring to the table on their end of a potential trade.

Unless the Lakers get a top-draft choice, this is all but impossible.

Golden State, on the other hand, would be a perfect partner for the T'wolves in a trade of the three-time NBA All-Star. The Warriors have deep roster ready to contend in the Western conference both now and into the future with a young core. They also can afford to give up a couple pieces to the Timberwolves to land the league’s premiere power forward. My trade scenario:

Golden State Warriors get Kevin Love

Minnesota Timberwolves get David Lee and Harrison Barnes

The Warriors should say yes to this trade in a heartbeat. Although Kevin Love is another big contract on the books, trading away David Lee helps mitigate that problem and even though Harrison Barnes has shown flashes of his potential, the Warriors could manage without him. With the pieces they already have, Mark Jackson could give more minutes to Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala at the 3 and even Klay Thompson, as necessary. Barnes' next contract would also likely strain the Warriors finances.

David Lee is Steph Curry’s primary pick-and-roll partner, and while I am a firm believer in Lee’s value to the Warriors, his jump-shot has taken a turn for the worse. Kevin Love brings a flexibility to run not just the P&R, but also the pick-and-pop. This frees up the paint for Curry to operate as a playmaker because Kevin Love’s jumper has to be respected.

David Lee's 2013 (left) and 2014 (right) shot charts. That mid-range game has decreased dramatically...

A starting lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, and Andrew Bogut would be shooters galore. And with the recent addition of Steve Blake, the Warriors could conceivably have three of the best shooters in the league roaming around for catch-and-shoot opportunities. Kevin Love on the perimeter gives Thompson/Curry/Iguodala/Crawford a chance to take the ball to the basket and Love on the inside opens up the perimeter. As Grantland’s Chris Ryan said, Love isn’t a franchise cornerstone. What he could do for the Warriors is give them a more powerful shot in the Wild West.

Would Minnesota say yes? Although the Timberwolves aren’t receiving a Love-caliber All-Star, they are buying potential with Harrison Barnes. The Black Falcon has a calm, cool attitude on the court that is exactly what you want in a scorer. His inconsistency in 2014 mirrors that of the Warriors, but regaining a starters role could really benefit Barnes in the long-term because he did have success there with the 2013 Warriors.

In case you’ve forgotten, Barnes put up two 25+ point performances vs. San Antonio in the 2013 conference semifinals (also two double-doubles, and two 50+ minutes played games). He also had a pair of 20+ point performances in the first round against Denver.

David Lee helps give Harrison Barnes some familiarity on a new team and gives the Timberwolves assurance that they have a consistent player who can put up 20-10 on a nightly basis. Don't forget he was a 2013 NBA All-Star.

Barring a three-team trade, not only is this a reasonable deal for the Timberwolves, but it’s also probably the best one they are going to get. The only chance that Minnesota receives a player of higher trade value is if the Clippers agree to a Love for Blake Griffin deal—which looks increasingly unlikely after Griffin’s drastic improvement in the first months of 2014. And even then, the combo of Lee and Barnes would be more valuable for Minnesota.

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