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Analyzing the Kevin Love deal that nearly ended the Golden State Warriors

By Tony Pesta

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 14: Kevin Love #42 (left) of the Minnesota Timberwolves and David Lee #10 (right) of the Golden State Warriors during a game on April 14, 2014 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 14: Kevin Love #42 (left) of the Minnesota Timberwolves and David Lee #10 (right) of the Golden State Warriors during a game on April 14, 2014 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Back before Stephen Curry was a superstar and Kevin Durant was on the Golden State Warriors, the Dubs nearly made a trade for Kevin Love that would have shaken the league.

Before Kevin Love was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there was a moment where it looked as if Love was headed to the Golden State Warriors. This trade proposal was a deal that would have sent Klay Thompson to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Love.

Nearly five years later, it’s time to examine how this trade would have changed the NBA landscape as we know it.

The NBA was a much different league back in the 2013-14 NBA season. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were merely promising young stars. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were battling in Oklahoma City while LeBron James was still with the Miami Heat.

Meanwhile, Kevin Love was averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Though his team barely missed the playoffs, it appeared as if Love was on the brink of becoming a superstar.

As for the Warriors, they had just been bounced from the postseason by the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game thriller. Both Curry and Thompson showed great potential, but neither was expected to become the players we know today. So, when Minnesota offered up Love in return for Thompson, the Warriors were understandably attracted to it.

However, Golden State did have a reason to feel uncertain about the deal. Thompson was fresh off of a career-high 18.4 points per game and the dynamic between him and Curry was intriguing. The “Splash Brothers” were quickly becoming the best 3-point shooting backcourt and had the potential to be truly elite.

After a few weeks of back-and-forth rumors, Warriors GM, Bob Meyers, was ready to pull the trigger on the deal. Except, there was only one thing standing in his way. Golden State Warriors owner, Jerry West, made the executive decision to shoot down the trade because he felt that Thompson was too valuable to give up.

Now that we have the benefits of hindsight, it is clear how crucial this decision by West was. The Golden State Warriors built their championship pedigree around the duo of Curry and Thompson. Splitting up these two future superstars would have had a profound impact on the structure of the team.

Not to mention, Kevin Love has had a history of constantly being injured when his team needs him the most. In contrast, I can’t remember a single playoff run in which Thompson was unavailable to play for the Warriors.

The most important factor of all is the fact that bringing in Love would have undoubtedly stiffened the emergence of Draymond Green. The Defensive Player of the Year would have never received his chance to shine if the Dubs had brought in an All-Star player to fill his position.

It is very likely that the Warriors would be in a much worse position right now if they made the decision to trade for Love back in 2014. On the flip side, Minnesota is probably very upset that they ended up with a package of Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, rather than Klay Thompson.

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