We are less than a month from the NBA trade deadline on February 6, and plenty of possibilities remain. There is no guarantee the Minnesota Timberwolves hold on to Julius Randle past the deadline, though it admittedly feels pretty likely they do at this point. Still, there are other moves around the margins the Wolves could be waiting to make.
As we look around the league, there are several former Timberwolves players involved in discussions leading up to the deadline as well. Obviously the most prominent one involving Jimmy Butler, who is currently in the midst of some big time drama with the Miami Heat. Wolves fans know far too much about the Butler experience, and now it looks like he is on the verge of forcing his way out of another team mid-season.
There is a big suspicion that the Heat could move Jimmy before the deadline, despite Pat Riley being insistent that they will not. If they do, it is entirely possible they could shift into a rebuilding mode. What that could mean is that they would then be looking to move other players including veterans that are no longer needed. Enter Kevin Love.
Kevin Love may head elsewhere if Heat rebuild
Should Butler be off the books, Miami would assuredly no longer be in position to contend for a championship, meaning a vet like K-Love would likely be searching for a new home in short order. Nearing the end of his career, it is reasonable to assume Love might seek out a reserve opportunity with a contending team.
The days of Love being a major contributor to a playoff squad are over, but he could still be a nice addition for a squad looking for veteran leadership and solid output on the floor in limited minutes. This statement alone will likely make long-tenured Timberwolves fans feel old.
It does not feel like that long ago that K-Love was putting up big scoring numbers for Minnesota back in the 2013-14 season, when he made second-team All-NBA and earned an All-Star appearance as well. These fond memories will likely have some Wolves fans still cheering on their old star, wherever he goes.