The Boston Celtics reportedly are a prime candidate to pick up Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love in a trade. Boston is an "increasingly intriguing destination" for Love, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
Love's representatives reportedly informed Minnesota over the weekend that the All-Star planned to opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer. ESPN reported Love prefers signing with the Golden State Warriors or the Chicago Bulls, but a report from Wojnarowski indicates Boston may soon become the frontrunner to land the power forward.
"The Boston Celtics have emerged as an increasingly intriguing destination for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love, and the Celtics' draft position coming out of Tuesday night's lottery could be telltale in determining the feasibility of a trade, league sources told Yahoo Sports," Wojnarowski wrote on Sunday. "If the lottery percentages hold to form, Boston would draft in the No. 5 slot, which could hold appeal to Minnesota in this talent-rich draft."
Bill Simmons of ESPN also predicted Boston to be a likely destination for Love, citing the Celtics' bevy of draft picks and the pairing of Love with All-Star Rajon Rondo.
"Let's say the Celtics lose the 2014 lottery and end up with a pick between No. 3 and No. 5," Simmons wrote on Feb. 26. "They could send that pick to Minny along with Atlanta's first-rounder (probably ending up in the 13-to-18 range) and their 2015 Clippers pick for Love. And they could throw in Brandon Bass and Keith Bogan's immediately waivable deal to make the contracts work.
"Oh, and if Minnesota were more interested in one or more of those future Brooklyn picks that Boston owns (unprotected in 2016 and 2018, pick swap in 2017), the Celtics could discuss that, too. ... That deal could potentially net the Timberwolves three top-15 picks in a monster draft."
Other teams reportedly planning to pursue Love include the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the Minnesota Star-Tribune on Sunday Love wouldn't be traded before the draft.
