Apr 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) scores a three point basket against Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) after a pass from Minnesota Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer (13) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
I have to give the Chicago Bulls front office some credit, they have been very busy. The Bulls are now considered as serious players in the Kevin Love sweepstakes.
According to Chad Ford of ESPN, via NBC Sports’ Dan Feldman, The Bulls have put together a trade package of Taj Gibson, Tony Snell and their 2014 two first round picks to Minnesota to get Kevin Love into a Chicago uniform.
So much for everyone wanting Taj Gibson to stay in Chicago.
The one thing this tells all of us Pippen Peoples is that Kevin Love can basically start packing his bags because he is basically gone from Minnesota.
Kevin Love, who turns 26 in September is in his last year of his contract that will pay him 15.7 million dollars before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Kevin Love has already informed the Timberwolves that he plans to test the free agent market (also read…leave on the first thing smoking) and look for teams that will contend for a championship. Last year, Love was a walking double-double averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game.
Another thing that we have to realize with dealing with the Bulls. Whatever player that they want these days, the Bulls always have a lot of company to bid with. We all know about all of the suitors the Chicago Bulls are linked with chasing after Carmelo Anthony. Kevin Love is no different.
According to David Aldridge on NBA TV (when David Aldridge talks, I always listen) the Golden State Warriors have been in continued talks with Minnesota. It seems the sticking point is the Warriors are reportedly having issues parting with one half of the Splash Brothers Klay Thompson. Other pieces could include David Lee and possibly Harrison Barnes. With Klay’s father Mychal leaking out some news about what’s possibly going with the trade, if the Bulls are making a charge for Kevin Love, they might want to hurry up.
Oh, I’m not done yet. There is one more team that has reached out to the Timberwolves for Kevin Love’s services. The Denver Nuggets, according to Boston Herald NBA beat reporter Steve Bulpett will be willing to part with the “Manimal” Kenneth Faried and swingman Wilson Chandler. Then Denver is trying to sweeten the deal by delivering possibly Arron Afflalo in a potential three team situation.
Yeah, if you are a fan to Pippen Ain’t Easy, you know we reported the Chicago Bulls were trying to work a deal for Arron Afflalo this weekend. Like I said before, the Chicago Bulls might want to hurry up. In this offseason, time waits for no man.
If this deal is legit and Minnesota goes for it, I have one thing to say…
It’s been real Taj Gibson! Tell Tony Snell I said bye.
A few weeks back, Jackie McMullan of ESPNBoston.com mentioned that the Bulls had offered a package larger than this one. This is a great deal for the Bulls if Minnesota goes for it. Only one thing needs to be cleared up.
Kevin Love needs to be locked up in an extension before this deal goes down.
This may be a foregone conclusion, but if it is not, it needs to addressed. Remember Kevin Love is in the last year of his deal. The Bulls cannot afford to do what the Los Angeles Lakers did with Dwight Howard, making a trade dealing one of your future core players along with two first round picks for a player to be around for a year assuming he will sign and then leaves.
But if they do keep him around, man maybe I’ll be a Bulls fan! Uhh, no. But the Chicago Bulls will be immediate title contenders. Kevin Love brings a ton of things to the Chicago roster. Let’s go over them shall we?
1) Man! Kevin Love can shoot.
Who on this squad do you know if his arms are raised over his shoulders behind the three-point line, odds are it will go in? I’ll wait. Kevin Love is a great shooter that the defense has to pay attention to. Guess what, if Love can do that, it opens up lanes n the defense for Derrick Rose to go to the basket.
2) Man! Kevin Love can score.
Kevin Love can do more than stay outside the arc and shoot three-point shots. He can get his own shot as well. He can create fouls and get to the free throw line. Plus he hits them too. If he comes to the Bulls, goodbye 70 point games. 26 points a game can do that for a team.
3) Kevin Love will have a new lease on life.
If he can get paroled from the Minnesota Timberwolves to a team that actually has a chance to draw playoff checks, Kevin Love will think he died and gone to heaven. In six seasons, Love has never made the playoffs. He wants the experience very badly. Couple that with playing with his friend Derrick Rose? Man, this dude will come out ballin!
This is rumor number 6,743 in the Chicago Bulls offseason thus far. That’s why you have to keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy for all your Chicago Bulls free agency news, previews and reviews.