Image via Complex Original
1.
The Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins megatrade could be blocked by the NBA due to a rules violation, and if it does indeed fall through, the Warriors may renew their interest in Love. Prior to the Draft, a potential deal featuring the Warriors' David Lee and Klay Thompson for Love was kicked around, but rumblings that the Warriors' unwillingness to include Thompson in any trade package shot the deal down. The Warriors have reportedly softened their stance on Thompson, but that's only because of the Cavaliers' proposal.
Love could've been off the market months ago though. According to BasketballInsiders' Steve Kyler, the Warriors would've played ball with the Timberwolves if Love had indicated that he'd sign an extension with the team.
2.
.@King_Learynidas: just bitter about my Warriors not getting Love --> Blame Kevin. Warriors would have done a deal before the draft.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) August 9, 2014
3.
.@OntarioSF: @King_Learynidas was Love's unwillingness to commit to Warriors long term the reason why deal wasn't done before draft? -> Yes
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) August 9, 2014
4.
Putting two and two together here, the Warriors' hard stance on Thompson's availability was likely contingent on Love's wishes. The Warriors probably thought that if Love was willing to sign an extension with them, his discontent with the Timberwolves would force a trade through sans Thompson. And even though the Timberwolves rejected all non-Thompson proposals, if Love badly wanted to be back in California, it's hard not to believe that the Warriors wouldn't have stepped up the ante for him.
It's a fair line of thinking, and it certainly explains the perplexing reports (Love for Thompson? No-brainer) that the Warriors had valued Thompson enough to not ship him off for Love. They were playing the politics of the trading game, and Love—a Southern California native—didn't want to commit to long-term return to his home state for unknown reason(s).
But once LeBron came back to Cleveland and began plotting a Love-LeBron partnership, the Warriors lost all their leverage. If Kyler's reports are to be believed, Love wasn't hot on the Warriors before the Draft, and was likely waiting to see how the free agency chips fell before making a decision.
[via FanSided]