Report: T'wolves interested in Thaddeus Young

The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly want Thaddeus Young to become Kevin Love's replacement at power forward.

Minnesota is exploring trade options to acquire the 76ers veteran if it parts ways with the disgruntled Love, according to ESPN.com.

The Timberwolves standout has expressed his desire to be traded to the Cavaliers. Love also has been linked to potential trades with the Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors.

It is unknown if the Sixers are willing to trade Young.

The team unsuccessfully shopped him leading up to the NBA draft, according to sources. But the Sixers have publicly expressed a desire to keep the 6-foot-8, 235-pounder.

It's no secret that Young, 26, wants to play for a contender, something the Timberwolves are not. It's also no secret that the Sixers are content with struggling again next season and are far away from being competitive.

Young has some leverage in the form of a player option after next season that would allow him to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. The option also makes it likely that the Sixers will try to trade or sign Young to a contract extension rather than risk losing him for nothing in return.

The Sixers are interested in acquiring assets, in the form of expiring contracts and draft picks, in trades.

On Feb. 20, they shipped Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Danny Granger, who had an expiring contract, and a second-round pick in 2015.

On the same day, the Sixers traded center Spencer Hawes to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Earl Clark, center Henry Sims, and two 2014 second-round draft picks. Clark was waived by the Sixers later that night.

Like Clark, Granger never played for the team. The Sixers bought out his contract.