Sacramento is preparing a trade offer for the Minnesota Timberwolves with designs on making Kevin Love a King for a year.
To get Love, the Kings are reportedly comfortable with trading for the forward without requiring him to sign a long-term contract.
The Kings can offer the eighth overall pick and a package of players that could include well-traveled swingman Rudy Gay or 2013 first-rounder Ben McLemore for Love, who is entering the final season of his contract and professed a desire to join a contender.
While the Timberwolves are lining up their own strategy ahead of the 2014 NBA Draft and owner Glen Taylor said last week the team does not plan to deal Love, suitors are lining up in bunches to land the All-Star and the price could climb to a level Minnesota cannot refuse.
DeMarcus Cousins, a talented but volatile center, could interest president of basketball operations Flip Saunders and the Timberwolves.
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The Kings were not in the 2014 postseason and whether Love - whose girlfriend lives in Los Angeles, where Love attended UCLA - would consider Sacramento more of a contender than Sacramento is debatable. Accepting that deal would be a prove-it year for the Kings. If they did not win or Love felt free agency would be in his best interest, he could bolt at the end of the 2014-15 season.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors are reportedly high on Love’s wish list.
He did not formally request a trade but as the Timberwolves proceed this offseason in hiring a new head coach to replace retired Rick Adelman, Love could approach the front office about a deal.
If Love hits the market via trade, he would join a wave of All-Stars that is likely to include New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and the Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh, all three of whom can opt out of the final year of their deals to headline the 2014 free agency class.
