The NBA trade deadline is hours away now, with Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love the apple of every buyer's eye. The Lakers have been rumored to be in heavy pursuit of arguably the league's top power forward, but Love isn't necessarily jumping through hoops to wind up in Hollywood.
"People think it's so far-fetched that I would stay in Minnesota," Love told GQ. "And I'm not s------g on the Lakers, but we have the better team, the better foundation. I'm having fun."
Love's own agent Jeff Schwartz has been quoted calling the Lakers Love's "top choice," but L.A,'s situation looks bleak. They just unloaded productive point guard Steve Blake to the Warriors in an apparent salary dump, while Pau Gasol is hobbled and Kobe Bryant remains out indefinitely after breaking his ankle.
Love can opt out of his current contract after next season, freeing him up to go anywhere he pleases in the summer of 2015. The Lakers moving Blake seems to indicate they're planning on going that route rather than some kind of deal right now.
The Mavericks were also named in recent reports regarding Love, but it is unclear if they have the pieces to acquire him or the desire to move critical rotation cogs on a team currently in possession of a playoff spot.
Likelier candidates for Love, while less sexy than L.A. and Dallas, are the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. The C's have a 2014 first rounder belonging to Brooklyn or Atlanta (whichever one is better) and the Clippers' 2015 first-rounder, and the option of retaining point guard Rajon Rondo and selling Love on a potentially championship-caliber pairing. They also have future first-rounders from Brooklyn which might be lottery picks as the Nets' veterans age.
Phoenix also has multiple 2014 first rounders that are protected, but belong to likely playoff squads, as well as a trove of young players with high-upside. Love may be reluctant to head to those smaller markets, but their packages will probably appeal to Minnesota brass.
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