The Kevin Love trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers appears to be on schedule for Saturday. With the first day of Cavaliers rookie Andrew Wiggins's trade eligibility approaching, the details of the purported deal seem to be coming into focus.
The specifics of who's-going-where is coming to light, and the trade appears to be on track to be completed sometime Saturday.
Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press reports the trade will likely look something like this: Cleveland gets Love; Minnesota gets Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young; and Philadelphia gets Alexey Shved, Luc Mbah a Moute and Cleveland's first-round pick from the Miami Heat.
"There are still some final wrinkles to be ironed out, but that's how everything is shaping up," Krawczynski tweeted on Thursday. "Optimism on all sides that it gets done."
Although it was originally believed Philadelphia would receive Bennett, a report Thursday morning indicated the deal could stall because of Philadelphia's desire to receive a first-round pick instead.
The 76ers appear to have gotten what they wanted, though, along with the addition of two expiring contracts that will help the team inch closer to the salary cap minimum while retaining financial flexibility for next summer.
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If the aforementioned deal holds true, Minnesota will have gotten fair compensation for Love. Wiggins and Bennett - the first overall picks of the 2014 and 2013 drafts, respectively - both have upside, and Young gives Minnesota the chance to win now while Bennett continues to develop.
Cleveland, meanwhile, will have catapulted from a lottery-pick team to a favorite to win the NBA title behind LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Love.
