Bulls Rumored To Be Interested In Kevin Love

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 22, 2014 9:20PM

Are the Bulls looking to add to their roster beyond the recent additions of free agent signee Pau Gasol, 2014 first-round draft pick Doug McDermott and 2011 first-round draft pick Nikola Mirotic? According to ESPN the Bulls are emerging as a player in the Kevin Love sweepstakes.

The Bulls have flirted with adding the Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward most of the offseason and were at one time believed to have offered Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and Carlos Boozer in a trade. But they tabled discussions for Love while pursuing Carmelo Anthony. Boozer has since been amnestied and landed with the Los Angeles Lakers, but Gibson and Butler are reportedly the centerpiece of the latest rumors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have been the two teams pursuing Love the hottest this offseason. The Cavs are be dangling a sweet carrot in the form of top draft pick Andrew Wiggins, last year's top pick Andrew Bennett and a future first-round pick. Minnesota wants the Warriors' Kay Thompson to be included in any deal for Love, but Golden State has refused to put him on the table, allowing the Bulls to creep back into the picture.

Love has already told the Timberwolves he will play out his existing contract and test the free agent market at the end of next season. If the Cavaliers can land Love he would make a new "Big Three" in Cleveland with LeBron James and point guard Kyrie Irving. But a Bulls frontcourt of Love, Gasol and Joakim Noah, with Mirotic coming off the bench, has us imagining the basketball flying around the halfcourt in ways it hasn't at the United Center since the Triangle offensive scheme of the Jordan Era. It would also allow the Bulls to sign some extra bench depth on the cheap while making a play to sign Love long term. Landing Love it would also elevate the Bulls or Cavs from Eastern Conference powers to legitimate title contenders.