A three-team trade that will send Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers has been finalized, the team confirmed Saturday.
The deal, which has been in the works since early July, places Love next to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, and sends No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and second-year forward Anthony Bennett to Minnesota.
The Philadelphia 76ers are the third team in the trade, and will receive Timberwolves forward Luc Mbah a Moute, guard Alexey Shved and a first-round pick from the Cavaliers (via the Miami Heat).
Also, the Timberwolves will receive forward Thaddeus Young from the 76ers.
Other trade exceptions could also involved in the deal, sources said.
Love, 25, is a three-time All-Star and averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds in 77 games last season.
“Kevin joining the Cavaliers represents a very special and unique opportunity for our team. At only 25, Kevin has already firmly established himself as one the NBA’s elite players and his talent, versatility and fit are major parts of our team’s vision for success,” said Cavaliers GM David Griffin in a team press release. “We want to also wish Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett the best as they will continue the start of their careers in Minnesota. They are both outstanding young men that have great potential on the court and long, very successful careers ahead of them.”
Love, who will wear the jersey number 0, will be introduced by the Cavaliers in a press conference at the team’s practice facilities near Cleveland on Tuesday.
The Timberwolves have lined up a Tuesday press conference at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to introduce the new players.
They have already taken out a newspaper as introducing Wiggins and others. Wiggins is expected to wear No. 22 for Minnesota.
Yahoo! Sports/FOX Sports 1 NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported details of the trade first.