Speculation arose this week that the Minnesota Timberwolves may be ready to part ways with All-Star Kevin Love by dealing him to the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics, but the team is reportedly in no rush to trade him.
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Love has made no secret about the fact that he wants to leave Minnesota next summer when he hits the open market as he's tired of losing and wants to play for a contender.
The Timberwolves had been adamant that they didn't want to deal Love, but their stance changed once it was known he didn't want to stick around in Minnesota as the team doesn't want to lose him for nothing next summer through free agency.
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Still, the team is taking a patient and calculated approach to shopping its franchise player amid reports that the Cavaliers and Celtics are both vying for his services and prepared to deal top assets in order to land him.
There were rumors earlier this week that the Cavaliers will make a move to acquire Love in order to help persuade top free agent LeBron James into a homecoming by re-signing with them after they prove their intentions to contend by dealing for Love.
Yahoo Sports, however, has reported that even though Cleveland was willing to part ways with 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota is likely to take a patient approach and aren't anxious to deal the three-time All-Star.
While Wiggins is a player with a lot of up-side, the Timberwolves would also like some established players in a trade if they do in fact end up parting ways with Love.
Minnesota is waiting for top-tier free agents in James and Carmelo Anthony to decide to sign with teams and then for secondary free agents like Luol Deng and Pau Gasol to ink new deals so that teams that lost out get desperate and offer more in trades to the Timberwolves in exchange for Love.
The Celtics were also linked to Love, 25, as the team was reportedly gathering assets to offer the Timberwolves in a package deal for him, but again a deal like this may not come to fruition until after the top free agents have signed and teams begin to get desperate.
Timberwolves head coach, president of basketball operations and part-owner Flip Saunders is looking for the biggest return possible by waiting out the top free agents this offseason and will take a patient approach in shopping Love.
The Timberwolves haven't made it to the playoffs in 10 seasons -- four with Love -- and Love wants to play for a contender, but he may just have to wait for the patient approach of Saunders to pan out.
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