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Golden State Warriors make Klay Thompson an Available Trade Asset

Basketball Insiders is reporting that Kevin Love would be willing to exercise his option if traded to the Golden State Warriors.

By ZacharyBD
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Yannis Koutroupis, a Senior Editor at Basketball Insiders, is reporting that the Golden State Warriors are increasing their efforts to land Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love.

Koutroupis reports the following: The Warriors have been trying to acquire Love without letting go of Thompson, but have come off of that stance because Love is willing to exercise his option for the 2015-16 season and put off becoming a free agent next summer-- according to a source.

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Basketball Insiders has reported news pertaining to the Timberwolves in the past, remember this?

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I have opinions, but this is what it is-- Kevin Love simply doesn't want play with the Minnesota Timberwolves next season.

Zach LaVine, standing in the hallway within the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, stood in front of a camera while appearing in what looked to be a one-on-one with a Bleacher Report employee. The man performing the interview asked LaVine about Kevin Love, and the Wolves first-round selection answered his question very candidly.

"No, I haven't talked to him [Kevin Love] yet." LaVine answered. The moment seemed awkward, but the employee stuck to his guns and asked LaVine what he thought it would be like playing with Kevin Love. "Lotta outlets," LaVine replied, "Lotta outlets and a lot of dunks, I know that."

I spent a solid ten minutes look for this interview on the Bleacher Report website, but to no avail. However, I was standing in the vicinity and managed to record some of the interview-- here's the uploaded audio. You'll have to download it, and the above quotations take place at the end of the clip.

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If the Wolves decide to trade Kevin Love there are two, clear front runners in the sweepstakes for the most-coveted, non-free agent of the 2014 NBA offseason.

  • The Warriors, who are allegedly willing to offer Klay Thompson as the centerpiece in a trade to acquire Love.
  • The Cleveland Cavaliers, who are essentially doing the same thing the Warriors are doing, with Andrew Wiggins.

This is all happening within 48 hours of Glen Taylor stating the following on NBA TV, in front of a national audience during the network's coverage of the Las Vegas Summer League.

Go ahead and speculate, but things seem to be heating up-- perhaps this is the proverbial 'bidding war' Wolves fans have been waiting for all this time.

Meanwhile,

Feels like someone is scrambling, but, I'm just not sure who it is.

-zb

Added Later [10:40PM Vegas Time]