On Tuesday, rumors were swirling that the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves were discussing a deal involving Kevin Love for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. It has been less than two months since Flip Saunders took over basketball operations in Minnesota, so the fact that Love’s name is already being mentioned in rumors could make the power forward rather unhappy. Here are the details of the rumors, from Andy Katz of ESPN:
But the Cavs are also exploring trading the top pick since they’re not in love with any one player who in a “normal” year wouldn’t be a top pick. According to a source, Cleveland offered the No. 1 pick, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters to try and land Minnesota’s Kevin Love. But new Timberwolves president Flip Saunders won’t move Love.
The Cavs are fond of Thompson and Waiters — the latter being one of the top six rookies last season — but Cleveland would love to get an All-Star forward to pair with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
The problem for Cleveland is there aren’t any takers for the top pick at the moment.
Turns out, the talks had more to do with the Cavaliers’ desire to move their No. 1 pick than anything else. Saunders vowed to carry a great relationship with his franchise power forward when he joined the team, so it certainly made little sense for him to shop Love, who is eligible to bolt if necessary after the 2015 season, for a bunch of pieces with question marks. Saunders wasn’t blind or deaf to all the talks through the day and had this to say on twitter to calm things down for his Timberwolves fans:
Have to chuckle at all the trade comments, proposals and some suggestions. DO enjoy them but please think first lol.
— Flip Saunders (@Flip_Saunders) June 26, 2013
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Flip Saunders wasn’t laughing at the Kevin Love rumors, Flip Saunders was laughing at Chris Grant’s preposterous offer.
Which is why the next time the Wolves want to do a trade with Cleveland, the Cavs don’t even answer the phone. There is a way to conduct yourself as a G.M. and this is not it. There was value you there even if you don’t think it is enough (I think it was way too much). But what you don’t do is turn down the offer, then leak the offer (and cause problems between the other teams and its young players), and then publicly ridicule it after it was made. This isn’t A.M. radio, it is a profession.