I'm already starting to panic, getting suspicious

[BloopOracle]

This will sound ridiculous but I'm getting increasingly paranoid that Love AND Ricky are both leaning towards bolting right now, I watch when we blow another game and Ricky has his arm around Love cheering him up or vice versa....I wonder what they are saying, maybe "don't worry we are almost free" or something to that effect. This is terrible

[Papalrep]

Ricky said somewhere (I think a Spanish news outlet) that he believes Love will stay because of the support he gets here. Translation - Kevin gets whatever he wants. Ricky went on to say the team needs to make improvements, because he wants to go to the playoffs, but he would like to stay here as well. Next year critical. Sorry, I don't have a link.

[Monster]

I think Love actually really likes it here. Will that keep him here? No but come off the ledge its scary but unless we really bomb next year I think the Wolves still have a good shot especially with the emergence to the legendary Dieng! lol I don't want to come off too positive, but there are a bunch of teams worse off than the Wolves. The coaching situation is going to be REALLY interesting. Also the Wolves look to me like they have a great shot at getting a nice player at #13 in this draft.

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

Kevin will stay, why else would he even be trying right now? We've been eliminated from the playoffs, he is going to get a max deal with whomever. The past few seasons we would have been tanking down the stretch, but not this season. So I think him still trying bodes very well for the Wolves in getting some winning chemistry going heading into the off-season

[Porckchop]

Ricky said somewhere (I think a Spanish news outlet) that he believes Love will stay because of the support he gets here. Translation - Kevin gets whatever he wants. Ricky went on to say the team needs to make improvements, because he wants to go to the playoffs, but he would like to stay here as well. Next year critical. Sorry, I don't have a link.

If thats what Ricky said then I would say to him. Worry bout making ur improvements. Your game has more holes than swiss cheese. If he had made even modest improvement to his offensivr game this team would be in the playoffs. A fringe starter shouldnt be making demands.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Ricky said somewhere (I think a Spanish news outlet) that he believes Love will stay because of the support he gets here. Translation - Kevin gets whatever he wants. Ricky went on to say the team needs to make improvements, because he wants to go to the playoffs, but he would like to stay here as well. Next year critical. Sorry, I don't have a link.

If thats what Ricky said then I would say to him. Worry bout making ur improvements. Your game has more holes than swiss cheese. If he had made even modest improvement to his offensivr game this team would be in the playoffs. A fringe starter shouldnt be making demands.

Lol modest improvements... Yet he set new career averages in multiple categories. Fringe starter? Yet there's plenty of arguments on why he's a top-10 or 15 point guard in the league already. His play isn't the reason we're out of the playoffs. This response from you is just more blind hate.

[60WinTim]

When I saw the title of this thread, I just assumed it had to do with Phoenix getting a top-3 pick in the lottery, and thus getting our pick as well...

And yes, I feel this sense of panic and suspicion about that happening!

[mjs34]

I wouldn't be surprised at all Tim.

My bigger concern is keeping Ricky and Kevin. They need to extend Ricky this off season, before anything comes up on Love. I don't want Love deciding to leave or being traded and then not being able to re-sign Ricky or having to drastically overpay because Feagan is holding us hostage.

Someone needs to tell Taylor to keep his mouth shut as well. For a billionare, he doesn't seem to be very media savy.

http://msn.foxsports.com/north/story/rubio-stays-healthy-all-year-but-needs-to-improve-weaknesses-041514

How does the author not understand the rookie scale contracts.

and is due $5 million next year if he doesn't sign a new deal this offseason.

Ricky's salary is already locked for next season regardless of whether he signs an extension or not.

Are we so cheap as a team that we can't hire a shooting coach for Ricky. First it was Porter, than David Aldeman, and now Flip Saunders working with Ricky on his shooting. Is there any wonder this team can't develop their younger players?

[60WinTim]

I thought Bobby Jackson was suppose to help players with their shooting... I suspect he might not be back (assuming Adelman retires).

We have all the leverage with Ricky since he will be a RFA after next season. But Love is another matter, of which there will be 3 milestones:

Milestone #1: This offseason. Flip needs to hear the words "if we are on the right track, there is a good chance I will re-sign next off season". But if the words are "I am frustrated with our progress - if Adelman is gone I may choose to leave next offseason", well, then Flip needs to look for a trade THIS off-season.

Milestone #2: Next season's trade deadline. If the Wolves are playing well and Love still says the right things, then it will be "steady as she goes" with hopes of re-signing Love next off-season. But if things have gone south (which could happen with Flip in charge and a new coach), then Flip has to seriously consider trading Love mid-season.

Milestone #3: Next off-season. Hopefully the Wolves have had a good run and Love re-signs and everyone is happy. Otherwise, Flip's GM abilities will be put to the test as he pursue's sign & trade possiblities, where he does not have a whole lot of leverage. This also marks the start of an entirely new rebuilding period...

[mjs34]

I disagree with the wolves having all the leverage over Ricky. If they wait till next year, he only has to play out the one season and then can walk away. There is considerably more incentive to re-sign with two seasons still in play. Keep in mind that a player playing on a QO contract can't be traded without his consent. So that give Ricky even more leverage over the wolves.

My concern is that we don't lose both players. Ricky is a great starting point for a reload, rather than trying to start from square one. I don't think this team will survive another full rebuild, considering they haven't managed to finish the latest one in seven years.