NBA could block Kevin Love trade

Posted by Unknown on Friday, August 08, 2014 with No comments
After reports surfaced that a deal is in place to send F Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers and that Love was prepared to sign a 5 year extension, the NBA began to monitor the situation.  If a deal has already been agreed to, the NBA would block the potential trade due to a Collective Bargaining violation.  

H/T Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein 

But sources say that the Cavs and Wolves, knowing that league officials are monitoring this transaction closely, have been careful not to make any public acknowledgments that trade details have already been agreed to. That’s because Wiggins remains ineligible to move moved until 30 days pass from the signing his rookie contract.
The Cavs were granted permission last month by Minnesota to speak to Love and his representatives in an introductory fashion, sources say, while James and Love have also been in direct contact about their long-term intentions of playing together in recent weeks. But sources insist that no agreement for Love to sign an extension in Cleveland next summer when he can become a free agent is in place.
Under NBA rules, such an agreement would be illegal and, if proven, potentially could be grounds for the league to block this trade and dole out punishment to both teams. The Wolves were infamously sanctioned heavily in 2000 after it was discovered that the club had promised a lucrative future contract — in writing — to Joe Smith, incurring a fine of $3.5 million and the loss of four first-round picks as well as suspensions for owner Glen Taylor and then-GM Kevin McHale.