Kevin Love is going to be traded, that much appears a given. And it is likely to happen this summer -- as opposed to waiting until next season's trade deadline.
It is no secret the Suns would like to add the versatile forward to a team that fell just shy of making the playoffs in what was supposed to be a lost season (save for the high draft pick that would come with an abysmal win-loss record).
Thursday's latest rumors suggest the Suns do not have the assets to compete with what others apparently are offering.
Of course, these are merely rumors and nothing appears imminent.
These apparent offers are doubly bad for the Suns' chances of landing Love:
1. The asset(s) the Suns would most willingly part with are their first-round draft picks in next week's draft. These deals don't include much in the way of picks, which could signify that is not what Minnesota is looking for in a trade.
2. The Suns can't compete with those packages, even when including either Goran Dragic or Eric Bledsoe (whether they should offer one of those point guards is a separate debate).
Klay Thompson is the top player to be mentioned thus far in any proposed deal for Love. And while David Lee's contract is less desirable, he is a good, established player.
Chandler, Faried and Afflalo is an even better package, if that's what Minnesota is looking for.
Suns analyst Eddie Johnson still thinks Phoenix is the best landing spot for Love.
The Suns' problem is what they were lauded for last offseason, acquiring three 2014 first-round picks, just isn't as highly valued values this summer.
But that doesn't mean they won't turn out to be down the road.
FOX Sports' Reid Forgrave laid out five "sleepers" outside the presumed top four of Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Dante Exum. Perhaps one, most likely Wichita State's Cleanthony Early, whom the Suns worked out Friday, could be available at No. 14, Phoenix's first pick.
It also would be interesting if Embiid's foot injury dropped him into the 7-10 range and the Suns traded up to snatch the 7-footer's potential.
GENTRY, KERR REUNITE
Also involving the Warriors, it was reported this morning that former Suns coach Alvin Gentry was given a significant raise and hired as associated head coach on Steve Kerr's staff in Golden State.
Gentry, who spent last season on Doc Rivers' staff with the Clippers, agreed in principle to a three-year deal with the Warriors, Yahoo! Sports reported.
Gentry previously worked under Kerr in Phoenix when Kerr was the Suns president of basketball operations (2007-10), and is the first addition to Kerr's staff.
