The Golden State Warriors reportedly are unwilling to include guard Klay Thompson in any potential trade for Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love. Marcus Thompson II of the San Jose Mercury News speculates trading for Love would include a package of David Lee, Harrison Barnes and a 2015 first-round draft pick.
ESPN named Golden State as one of the two teams Love wanted to play for. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor didn't rule out trading Love for the right offer, which may have the Warriors' front office thinking of possible deals to offer Minnesota.
"Ideally, the Warriors could pull it off with a package of Lee, forward Harrison Barnes and the 2015 draft pick," Thompson wrote on Monday. "That's probably the best the Warriors could offer.
"A team source said the Warriors don't want to give up Klay Thompson to land Love. Draymond Green doesn't make enough to impact the trade financially. That leaves Barnes, whom the Warriors stuck by during his sophomore slump.
"Perhaps Barnes and Green, in tandem, would qualify as enough young talent to pair with Lee -- but that's giving up too much as Green has proved invaluable off the bench."
The Associated Press reported Minnesota is looking for a first-round draft pick and at least one veteran player in exchange for Love.
Taylor said the team wasn't planning on trading Love and hasn't had any discussions with other teams.
"I should never say never because who knows what might come up? But that's not our plan," Taylor told the Pioneer Press on Monday. "I'm not in a position where you would say absolutely I wouldn't do it, because what if something that I can't even speculate (on) happens? You'd say, 'You're nuts, Glen.' Maybe some team puts a value on him that's different than we suspect. ...
"At this point, we're not talking to any teams," he said. "I haven't heard from Kevin or his agents or anything like that. We're assuming that Kevin will be here next season, and we're working with that scenario. This isn't the time for us to do anything but to prepare for next year."
Love is eligible to opt out of his contract next summer and become a free agent.
