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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Love not going anywhere, yet

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. – If Kevin Love is on his way to Golden State, Warriors general manager Bob Myers isn’t telling.

With his team one of the many that has had discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about Love, Myers declined Friday to speak specifically about the possibility of adding the three-time All-Star to a team that won 51 games last season. He said it was “unlikely” that the Warriors would make a significant trade before the draft Thursday, but also acknowledged that things could change on that front at a moment’s notice.

“I will say if you asked me last year at this time would we be in a situation to grab an (Andre) Iguodala, I would have said the same thing,” Myers said. “I could get up from this (press conference) and 5 minutes later my phone rings and it’s a deal that I hadn’t thought of, and all of a sudden you’re going down that path. Right now it’s unlikely.”

The Timberwolves are considering moving the face of their franchise because Love can opt out of his contract after next summer and has made it clear to the team that he plans to sign elsewhere after missing the playoffs for the first six seasons of his career.

Flip Saunders, the Timberwolves’ president and coach, has received interest from a number of teams, including the Warriors and Celtics, who could send Minnesota their two first-round picks in this year’s draft – Nos. 6 and 17 – and a player or two in exchange for Love. The Rockets, Bulls and Cavaliers are among the other teams who could be interested in one of the best power forwards in the league.

Saunders is believed to be looking for a package highlighted by proven young veterans who could help the Wolves – who won 40 games last season but have missed the playoffs for 10 straight years – avoid another rebuilding phase.

The Warriors could send 23-year-old guard and former Washington State star Klay Thompson, former All-Star forward David Lee and a first-round pick to the Wolves for Love and Kevin Martin, or Saunders could try to get the Warriors to include swingman Harrison Barnes as well.

Saunders also could elect to keep Love on the roster, make a couple of moves once the free-agent market opens on July 1 and try to convince Love to change his mind next season and remain with the team.

Rumors about a potential trade involving Love picked up steam when former NBA player and current sports talk radio host Mychal Thompson, Klay Thompson’s father, went on air last week and said a deal appeared imminent.

Myers smiled when asked about it.

“Things are reported and immediately reported based on that initial report,” Myers said. “Sometimes things pick up speed. It’s nice to be relevant, I suppose. But to be honest I prefer things not to be out there that are not actually accurate.”