The NBA Trade Rumors are starting to unravel, at least for the eliminated teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in familiar territory while the Lakers broke a string of post-season appearances.

The big difference in this season is that the Lakers had the worse record. They were actually the first team eliminated (because they are in the West) while Minnesota was in the running as late as two weeks before the play-offs.

Now, Minnesota needs to face the reality that Kevin Love, their superstar and a top 10 player has had enough of this. They need to look ahead. In 2015, Kevin Love can choose to become an unrestricted free agent who can leave Minnesota with nothing in exchange.

Most observers see it as the Lakers prerogative already. They have the sixth worst record which gives them more chances to win the lottery. If not, sixth overall can still merit a contributor. But will the Lakers trade that pick when they can sign Kevin Love after a year?

The pressure comes from Kobe Bryant who does not want to waste one of his last seasons in rebuilding mode. As a competitor and an entertainer, he feels that it's too much for the fans to take after a disastrous 2013-14 season.

His statements in March when he announced that he was officially not returning for the season. From the LA Times:

"Oh, yeah, let's just play next year and let's just suck again. No. Absolutely not! It's my job to go out there on the court and perform, no excuses for it. Right? You've got to get things done.

Same thing with the front office. The same expectations they have of me when I perform on the court, it's the same expectations I have for them up there."

You have to give it to Kobe, he could just stay cool and pick up his $ 23 million paycheck for next year, but he demands to be competitive.

That is why Marc Stein of ESPN has reported: "The suggestion is already in circulation that the Lakers will attempt to use their forthcoming high lottery pick in June to assemble the sort of trade package that finally convinces the Wolves to part with Love and end the uncertainty that hangs over this franchise even before the 25-year-old enters the final year of his contract. Yet there is just as much defiance emanating from Minnesota, as we speak, about the Wolves' ability to keep Love in town."

If the Lakers break into the top three of the lottery instead of sixth place, the discussion will be more interesting for both sides. Minnesota will be more considerate but the Lakers would probably hesitate. Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid would be good enough to be Kobe's running mate, and they can still sign Kevin Love a year later.