My Thoughts on Love

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Hockey, where have you been? Watching the Wild? I guess I'll give Love a little credit for coming out and being clear about this well before the draft so we can organize and make the best trade available. But it would be fun watching Love get booed all year (ala Dwight Coward in Orlando).

But whether he's on the team or not next year, fans like me and many others here won't stick around for another rebuild. There is the example of Denver to look at, after they traded Carmelo, they got better. So I think next season's performance will be critical. If we miss the playoffs again next season, move the team to Seattle/Vegas/Iowa City/Omaha/Timbuktu

1. It's pretty hard to boo Kevin Love. While still a flawed player in some ways, there's no reason anybody should be upset that he wants out. There are MANY reasons why he should leave. I don't know of (m)any why he should stay.

2. I agree about another rebuild. I've been saying it all year. Attendance was down in the first year the team was supposed to compete. Another rebuild? Target Center is a ghost town.

3. I'm in the camp that Minnesota will be the next NBA team rumored to be relocating. But what about the $100M renovation of Target Center? Are there any stipulations in there preventing such a thing...

Ok, maybe he won't get booed, maybe I'm just being bitter. But I guess I can't blame him for wanting to leave.

Not sure about the renovation, hard to imagine the league would absorb that cost if they move the team to London.

And Abe, aren't you excited for a possible Pacers-Spurs small market finals? I know the league won't allow that, but it's fun to dream, right?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

It's been an interesting week for Kevin Love talk, and it's probably a good time to summarize what we "know" and what are still just rumors.

Actually the only thing we know are the specifics of Kevin's contract. The media has reported that he is as good as gone and that the Wolves are exploring trade options, but we have still heard nothing from those that really know...i.e. Wolves officials, or more importantly, Kevin himself (or his agent). All the "news" out there is still attributed to "league sources". After we drafted Ricky Rubio and before he came to play for us, the national media "knew" that he would never play in Minneapolis, and that he was more likely to end up in New York. So much for the wisdom of the basketball pundits.

During his short career, Kevin Love has not shown himself to be a guy with an ability to keep his mouth shut, so his silence on this topic is peculiar. Almost everyone has concluded that Kevin's driving force will be the chance to win a championship, but we don't know that this is true. If money is actually the driving force, it's important to remember that the Wolves hold a huge trump card in terms of guaranteed money they can offer.

Don't get me wrong...my best guess is still that Kevin is gone. But I don't know how much of my belief is influenced by the often-wrong national rumor mill, and I'm merely trying to remind us all of how much we don't know yet. This could unfold in a fashion entirely different from what the default conclusion is currently.

But let's assume for a moment that Kevin is driven by the need to win, and that he has concluded that will not happen in Minnesota. What would then be his best course of action? Unfortunately, his best course of action would be in opposition of what is best for the Wolves. Kevin would want the team he will join to be as strong as possible in order to maximize their championship chances, and thus he doesn't want his future team to surrender any assets to the Wolves. If this is where Kevin is now, his agent is advising him to string the Wolves along...to convince them he plans to stay so that the Wolves are not compelled to trade him, resulting in Kevin's future team surrendering players or draft picks that make them a stronger contender. Is this what is going on right now? Possibly.

These are the three possible outcomes in order of my preference:
1) Kevin decides to stay
2) Kevin decides to leave, but either tells the Wolves early or clearly tips his hand so we can maximize our return
3) Kevin convinces Flip that he is staying, and then leaves as a free agent so the Wolves get nothing in return (except cap space)

Obviously I want option 1 and I'm not giving up on it, but option three might be the smartest option for Kevin (and the path his agent would advise him to follow). But because of Kevin's proven inability to keep his mouth shut, I currently think the most likely outcome is option 2. At some point Flip will "know" that Kevin is gone, and will begin an aggressive process to salvage whatever he can. I hope I'm wrong.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I also find it fascinating that Love's comments or that of his agent, came right after Rubio questioned his leadership. Maybe just a coincidence, or did Rubio push Love over the edge???

[mjs34]

Apparently Taylor did an interview on Fox last night and stated that they would listen to offers, but that he hadn't even spoken with Flip about it. If that is true, then Love's people haven't notified the wolves of his intent to leave. Zgoda wrote that Taylor and Flip have not even spoken with Love's people since mid April, and Taylor also stated that nothing would happen before the draft. Now whether he meant draft lottery or the actual draft isn't clear.

This could be a mistake by the media because they are idiots, and I say that because of this by ESPN -

Multiple national outlets advanced the ball on Kevin Love trade speculation over the weekend, with ESPN.com coming on the strongest by saying Love "has made it clear to the Timberwolves that he intends to become an unrestricted free agent after next season and has no interest in a contract extension this summer to stay in Minnesota."


Love CAN'T sign an extension this summer. He isn't eligible until January (25th?) of 2015. It would be stupid for him to sign an extension then because it would only give him an additional 3 years guaranteed including his option year. If he waits till the summer of 2015 he can re-sign as FA and get a full 5 years from the wolves, and I believe there is a possible increase that has something to do with 30% of the cap for max salary, whereas the extension is limited to the standard 7.5% increase. I think Kahn had mentioned something about that as well, when trying to justify the shorter deal.

The CBA has really screwed markets like ours with this discrepancy. Why limit the team from giving the same contract in the extension?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I also find it fascinating that Love's comments or that of his agent, came right after Rubio questioned his leadership. Maybe just a coincidence, or did Rubio push Love over the edge???

I guess I take a step back here ,Lloyd, and ask this question...how do we know either Kevin or his agent have made any comments at all? All I have seen is media speculation that all seem to be a reaction to a NY Daily News article saying Love had made up his mind. The NY Daily News! Basically one step up from the National Enquirer.

Ricky Rubio had made no negative statements about coming to Minnesota when the NY media concluded he was going to NY. This smells a lot like that to me.

Don't get me wrong...I still think the most likely scenario is that Kevin eventually leaves. I'm just suspicious of the NY-created media swirl.

[mjs34]

My thoughts on Love are that if the losing was wearing on him, maybe he could have played some defense, or closed out some of those close games. He is clearly not a man of his word, or he wouldn't have made a decision already. It was nice of him to keep up the lie, while Flip signed on 30 mil in annual salaries last season to make a push for the PO's.

If I am Flip, I only trade him for a godfather offer. Anything less only continues the mediocrity of this team. Either we bottom out with picks for the future while dumping the longer salaried guys like Pek, or you entertain the fans next season and then start the rebuild with Love walking away for less money, less years, and less options.

oh please, Love was 4th in scoring 3 in rebounds, almost 5 assists a game. To put even a smidge of blame on him for not making the playoffs is stupid. Wolves wouldn't of scratched 20 wins this year without him

And yet they won over 30 games the season before without him. How do explain that? We spent over 10 mil more annually on salaries and had a healthy Love and didn't even post 10 more wins.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

My thoughts on Love are that if the losing was wearing on him, maybe he could have played some defense, or closed out some of those close games. He is clearly not a man of his word, or he wouldn't have made a decision already. It was nice of him to keep up the lie, while Flip signed on 30 mil in annual salaries last season to make a push for the PO's.

If I am Flip, I only trade him for a godfather offer. Anything less only continues the mediocrity of this team. Either we bottom out with picks for the future while dumping the longer salaried guys like Pek, or you entertain the fans next season and then start the rebuild with Love walking away for less money, less years, and less options.

oh please, Love was 4th in scoring 3 in rebounds, almost 5 assists a game. To put even a smidge of blame on him for not making the playoffs is stupid. Wolves wouldn't of scratched 20 wins this year without him

And yet they won over 30 games the season before without him. How do explain that? We spent over 10 mil more annually on salaries and had a healthy Love and didn't even post 10 more wins.

Love was 3rd in the league in PER behind only durant and Lebron

[mjs34]

My thoughts on Love are that if the losing was wearing on him, maybe he could have played some defense, or closed out some of those close games. He is clearly not a man of his word, or he wouldn't have made a decision already. It was nice of him to keep up the lie, while Flip signed on 30 mil in annual salaries last season to make a push for the PO's.

If I am Flip, I only trade him for a godfather offer. Anything less only continues the mediocrity of this team. Either we bottom out with picks for the future while dumping the longer salaried guys like Pek, or you entertain the fans next season and then start the rebuild with Love walking away for less money, less years, and less options.

oh please, Love was 4th in scoring 3 in rebounds, almost 5 assists a game. To put even a smidge of blame on him for not making the playoffs is stupid. Wolves wouldn't of scratched 20 wins this year without him

And yet they won over 30 games the season before without him. How do explain that? We spent over 10 mil more annually on salaries and had a healthy Love and didn't even post 10 more wins.

Love was 3rd in the league in PER behind only durant and Lebron

What does that have to do with Love playing D!

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

My thoughts on Love are that if the losing was wearing on him, maybe he could have played some defense, or closed out some of those close games. He is clearly not a man of his word, or he wouldn't have made a decision already. It was nice of him to keep up the lie, while Flip signed on 30 mil in annual salaries last season to make a push for the PO's.

If I am Flip, I only trade him for a godfather offer. Anything less only continues the mediocrity of this team. Either we bottom out with picks for the future while dumping the longer salaried guys like Pek, or you entertain the fans next season and then start the rebuild with Love walking away for less money, less years, and less options.

oh please, Love was 4th in scoring 3 in rebounds, almost 5 assists a game. To put even a smidge of blame on him for not making the playoffs is stupid. Wolves wouldn't of scratched 20 wins this year without him

And yet they won over 30 games the season before without him. How do explain that? We spent over 10 mil more annually on salaries and had a healthy Love and didn't even post 10 more wins.

Love was 3rd in the league in PER behind only durant and Lebron

What does that have to do with Love playing D!

Name one other PF in the league that would of given the Wolves more wins this year

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I also find it fascinating that Love's comments or that of his agent, came right after Rubio questioned his leadership. Maybe just a coincidence, or did Rubio push Love over the edge???

I guess I take a step back here ,Lloyd, and ask this question...how do we know either Kevin or his agent have made any comments at all? All I have seen is media speculation that all seem to be a reaction to a NY Daily News article saying Love had made up his mind. The NY Daily News! Basically one step up from the National Enquirer.

Ricky Rubio had made no negative statements about coming to Minnesota when the NY media concluded he was going to NY. This smells a lot like that to me.

Don't get me wrong...I still think the most likely scenario is that Kevin eventually leaves. I'm just suspicious of the NY-created media swirl.

You're right LST, we don't. I thought it was a more credible source, but it's just some new writer over at the four letter network making stuff up, with "sources close to the situation".

And the Daily News too. But Yahoo is now running a piece on "Wolves open to trading Love", what a mess. Like I said before, they won't be satisfied until he's in LA or NY.