According to an Eastern Conference executive, the Minnesota Timberwolves should trade Kevin Love now so they can avoid losing him for free.
“No one thinks he's staying," The exec told Ken Berger of CBS. "Everyone knows he wants to go to the Lakers.”
Love was visibly angered after Minnesota's loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, ripping two teammates for a perceived lack of investment in the team's success.
"We can't have two guys sitting at the end of the bench that play good minutes just sitting there and not getting up during time outs. We all need to be in this together. That kind of pisses me off. We're supposed to be a team. If and when I did that last year when maybe I didn’t sit out for the game for all 48 minutes...they would’ve aired me out."
While Love refused to name names, JJ Barea and Dante Cunningham are widely believed to be the two players Love is frustrated with. Love and Barea had a public clash last year, and there are serious doubts in the Minnesota front office that the two can coexist on the same roster for much longer.
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Love, who grew up a Lakers fan, has been linked with a move to Los Angeles for some time now. A graduate of UCLA, Love has privately listed the Lakers as his dream destination, whether through a trade or free agency. While currently lacks the assets to trade for Love, he'll be able to opt out of his contract in July 2015 and become a free agent. While there's still plenty of time before that happens, Love has given every indication that he plans to opt out and become a free agent, with Los Angeles as his preferred destination.
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With frustrations growing in Minnesota, the Timberwolves are believed to be considering trade options. While nothing is imminent and only exploratory steps have been taken, don't be surprised if Kevin Love trade rumors start to snowball as we inch closer to the trade deadline.
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