Report: Timberwolves interested in replacing Kevin Love with Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young has essentially been on the trading block ever since Sam Hinkie sent Jrue Holiday and the No. 42 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to New Orleans for Nerlens Noel and the 2014 first round pick that later became Dario Saric. Combine that with the team's surplus of cap space, and the Sixers are a natural candidate to serve as a third team to help facilitate a Kevin Love trade.

Monday afternoon, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Timberwolves are specifically interested in acquiring Thaddeus Young in order to directly replace Love alongside Nikola Pekovic in Minnesota's front court.

Some have speculated that the Sixers' involvement in a Kevin Love trade is due to the fact the team is seriously interested in acquiring local product Dion Waiters, however that has not been confirmed by any source close to the Sixers organization. And, from Philly's recent transactions and Liberty Ballers' knowledge of the front office's thinking, that does not seem very likely.

So, what could the Sixers receive in exchange for Thaddeus Young and helping facilitate bringing Kevin Love to Lebron James' Cleveland Cavaliers?

Minnesota landing Young could likely help Cleveland hold on to some of their young players and draft picks, and might free up the Cavaliers in sending a 2015 first-round pick to the Sixers. The Cavs currently have two first round picks owed to them for next summer's draft. Minnesota's 2015 first round pick is owed to Phoenix and is top-12 protected.

Throughout this Love affair, it has grown heavily reported and increasingly obvious Minnesota is hoping to unload Kevin Martin's contract as well. Martin's deal currently has three years remaining at approximately $7 million each season, with the final year being a player option.

If the Wolves are indeed thirsting for Young, we could potentially see Minnesota send Martin and a first round pick from Cleveland Hinkie's way. Perhaps Hinkie could even include a few future second round picks with Young to rescue a young prospect like an Alexey Shved as well. With the Sixers' cap room and the NBA's team salary cap potentially increasing exponentially with a new TV deal in 2017, Martin's $7 million annual cap hit wouldn't necessarily hurt the team too badly in the final year of his deal 2016-17. Some around the league have projected the annual salary cap to be around $100 million by the 2017-18 season.