FanPost

Should we reacquire Kevin Love?

The never ending Carmelo Anthony rumors have reached the point of the biggest hangup trading him to Cleveland is The Knicks don't want Kevin Love. The Timberwolves have the contracts to make it work in Gorgei Dieng and Cole Aldrich. They have a first rounder to include as an extra asset to sweeten the deal.

The groundwork of the deal:

Cavs receive: Carmelo Anthony

Knicks receive: Gorgei Dieng, Cole Aldrich, 1st rounder from MIN

Wolves receive: Kevin Love

There's additionally things the Cavs and Knicks could do make the deal work with both teams like swapping Channing Frye for Cole Aldrich to help clear up the glut of bigs on the Knicks as Frye is an expiring deal. Iman Shumpert could also be flipped for Kyle O"Quinn or Lance Thomas. The Wolves could maybe swap Bjelica for Lance Thomas to ease Thibs defensive hangups, though that brings us that much closer to the luxury tax, which is yet to be seen if Glen Taylor will actually pay it.

You can combine any of those suggestions together but the way I like the deal the best for all teams involved is this.

Cavs receiver: Carmelo Anthony, Cole Aldrich, Nemanja Bjelica

Knicks receive: Gorgei Dieng, Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, 1st rounder from MIN

Wolves receive: Kevin Love, Lance Thomas

The Wolves end up taking on 4 million in salaries while the Cavs and Knicks both lower their payrolls, I'd hope because of this we could keep our first round pick, but I'm not sure Gorgei is a big enough return on his own. The money is the only clear downside, as Love brings a clear upgrade over the package of players sent out for him, and can reasonably be expected to fill every minute of those players. Lance Thomas brings us the defense we need from the swing position.

The Cavs save three million in luxury tax and get their guy in Melo. They also save money long term incase Lebron decides to bolt for LA. All they really lose is perimeter defense. If they are that worried about their defense to keep Shumbert and let Bjelica go to NY the price they pay is a three million increase in luxury tax rather than decrease.

The Knicks get rid of long term deals for older players, but take on the longest deal in the trade in Gorgei. This is what this trade would hinge on the most. Do the Knicks think a Dieng/Porzingis frontcourt pairing will work for the next four years? They get major cap relief and an extra first rounder to help ease that decision, but ultimately the Knicks need to buy into this for the trade to happen.

For the Wolves I think this would be a no brainer. Their starting lineup would feature five former or potentially future all stars. They would have Taj Gibson Tyus Jones and Lance Thomas primarily make up the bench unit as those three can play any position the team needs. They would still possess the room exception to sign some bench scoring. This wouldn't be a perfect fit for Thibs, but the free flowing offensive rotation between Love and KAT would be a sight to see.