Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86681 posts
Tue May-27-14 04:22 PM
"Paging InKast! Sacramento looking to be home to Cousins Love. (swipe)"
They're willing to part with the eighth pick and players (including McLemore, last year's high pick)... with ZERO assurance that Love would re-sign. Intriguing.
Kings willing to trade for Kevin Love without assurance he'll re-sign Marc J. Spears
The Sacramento Kings have let the Minnesota Timberwolves know they are interested in trading for All-Star forward Kevin Love – and the Kings would make a deal without any assurance from Love he'd re-sign with them, a league source told Yahoo Sports.
The Kings are willing to give up their eighth overall pick in this year's NBA draft and a combination of players for Love, even though he would not be expected to sign a contract extension before next season – if ever, with the rebuilding, small-market franchise, the source said. Sacramento envisions Love and DeMarcus Cousins playing alongside each other in the front court. Swingman Rudy Gay has a player's option for next season.
The Kings know they'd have to gamble on convincing Love to re-sign, given that the franchise is rebuilding and Love is looking to play for a contender after never reaching the playoffs with the Timberwolves. Love's suitors also figure to include a number of bigger markets, including the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls.
Love's representatives with Excel Sports have pushed Timberwolves president Flip Saunders to find an acceptable trade prior to the start of free agency in July. Without a trade, Love plans to opt out of his contract in the summer of 2015 and likely leave Minnesota as a free agent.
The Kings showed in their first season under new owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Pete D'Alessandro they are willing to spend money. They acquired Gay and signed Cousins to a four-year, $62 million extension.
Sacramento struggled to a 28-54 record last season and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season. The Kings expect to begin playing in a new downtown Sacramento arena in 2016.
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