If you’re looking for a reliable source for the rumors that a Kevin Love trade to the Golden State Warriors is moving along, how about the father of one Klay Thompson, the main piece that would be heading back to Minnesota?
Klay’s father Mychal Thompson — the former No. 1 overall pick, the former member of the Showtime Lakers, and currently a Lakers broadcaster and sports talk radio host in L.A. — made it sound like the deal is very close, as reported by Monte Poole at CSNBayArea.com.
“My source knows what’s going on up there (in Oakland),” Thompson said Thursday morning on the air of ESPN LA 710. “And since this guy told me that this is really close to happening, it just kind of depressed me.”
It also depressed Klay. There had been talk about Love coming to the Bay Area but at first the Warriors were reticent to part with Thompson. That has changed.
“It’s disappointing, because Klay and I have been talking about this all summer and the possibility of this happening, as far as him and Kevin being together on the same team – along with Steph Curry,” Mychal Thompson said. “And he was really looking forward to that. He thought that if you added Love to the Splash Brothers, with (Andrew) Bogut and (Andre) Iguodala, they had a chance . . . to get to the West finals next year.
“If this happens, I’m going to have to talk him down off the ledge.”
I would feel the same way if I were Thompson.
But it is the right move for Golden State. The bottom line is this: Thompson’s skill set is easier to replicate than Love’s.
The alleged deal would look something like Thompson and David Lee for Love and some combination of Kevin Martin, backup point guard J.J. Berea and Minnesota’s No. 1 pick (13th overall) in next week’s NBA draft. I think sending all of those West is too high a price for Minnesota. This is a fluid situation and other players such as Draymond Green could end up in the mix. I’d give up Martin (Thompson replaces him) and either Barea or the pick, but not both.
That trade is a win for the Warriors. Martin isn’t as good as Thompson but he’s a solid replacement and good three point shooter. With Love and Stephen Curry Golden State would have the instant best pick-and-pop combo in the NBA, plus it keeps its defensive core of Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut in place. The Warriors become contenders in the West.
Expect that if Minnesota does this it’s the first of a series of moves to rebuild. They may like and try to keep Thompson, but Lee will not be in the long-term plans (Lee and Nikola Pekovic make a terrible defensive front line).
It’s not yet a done deal and I wouldn’t expect Minnesota to pull the trigger until draft day. But talks are progressing.
