Kevin Love Talks About Possibly Leaving Timberwolves

[rondohondo]

Kevin Love has emerged as a legitimate superstar this season, leading the NBA in rebounding by a large margin.

His relationship with Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis has been strained, mainly over differences relating to playing time.

The Timberwolves are struggling, but Love is aware that the team has a brighter future.

"I can see a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "I couldn't see it last year."

Love is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, but admits he does think about free agency.

"We'll see what happens with what David Kahn and the front office want to do," Love said. "If it's right, it's right. If it's not, it's not. I could end up somewhere else. I just want to play for a team that wants to win at this point. At this point, I just want to win now."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70960/20110105/love_talks_about_possibly_leaving_timberwolves/

Kevin Love will be a restricted FA in 2012, I would love to see the c's make a run at him. He would be a great fit with Rondo, He grabs 25 rebs and gets the break started for Rondo !

[GranTur]

I very rarely pine for a player when he becomes a free agent. Kevin Love is definitely someone I want to see as a Celtic.

He would be a perfect main piece to the post-Big Three era.

[Roy H.]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

[pearljammer10]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

Agree completely... I certainly wouldnt want Love in Boston with a max contract. Actually I wouldnt want Love as our post big three cornerstone either.

[Snakehead]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

I know it'd be hard to believe someone would pass on a max contract but the T-Wolves would see that happen before any other team in the league probably.

I know for example Miami would want him and I'm sure plenty of other teams too that are contenders.  If he has opportunities that good it would be hard to believe he would stay on the Timberwolves, even if they give him the max.

Maybe I'm just believing too much that he'd rather win than get the max money.  I know it's rare but Love seems like he could be that type of player.

[Who]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

Agree completely... I certainly wouldnt want Love in Boston with a max contract. Actually I wouldnt want Love as our post big three cornerstone either.

Yeah, I don't think I do either.

Love is a tremendous rebounder but his limitations offensively (fourth option level player) and defensively (one of the weakest defenders in the league at his position) limit his value considerably.

[hwangjini_1]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

an honest question here.

given the pending labor/owner battles and the soon to be shifting contractual landscape of the nba, do our previous assumptions on max contracts still function beyond this season?

[Rondo_is_better]

Sick team, bro. T-Wolves and Raptors need to be contracted.

[GranTur]

Love is a tremendous rebounder but his limitations offensively (fourth option level player) and defensively (one of the weakest defenders in the league at his position) limit his value considerably.

Those two statements are very false. He's an average defender and an above average scorer.

He has a 43% 3-PT FG% and scores 20.6 a game on 15.2 shots a game. That's not terrible efficiency. With a guy like Rondo and with more experience/good coaching that would improve more.

His defense is definitely very mediocre, but he's a very smart and effort-giving player, which lends itself to a team defense system. His individual defense will improve with maturity as well.

He's 22 years old averaging 20.6 PPG and 15.5 rebounds. He's going to be a star.

[2short]

I'm sure danny can put together a package to get a minny pf 
bradley, harangody, semih and tyrone lue

Ainge did it once why not twice? 

[Who]

Love is a tremendous rebounder but his limitations offensively (fourth option level player) and defensively (one of the weakest defenders in the league at his position) limit his value considerably.

Those two statements are very false. He's an average defender and an above average scorer.

He has a 43% 3-PT FG% and scores 20.6 a game on 15.2 shots a game. That's not terrible efficiency. With a guy like Rondo and with more experience/good coaching that would improve more.

His defense is definitely very mediocre, but he's a very smart and effort-giving player, which lends itself to a team defense system. His individual defense will improve with maturity as well.

He's 22 years old averaging 20.6 PPG and 15.5 rebounds. He's going to be a star.

Kevin Love is poor at creating his own shot when he plays against good defensive teams.

His big scoring nights come against teams that are usually weak overall defensive squads + have a defensive liability at PF.

[rondohondo]

Love is a tremendous rebounder but his limitations offensively (fourth option level player) and defensively (one of the weakest defenders in the league at his position) limit his value considerably.

Those two statements are very false. He's an average defender and an above average scorer.

He has a 43% 3-PT FG% and scores 20.6 a game on 15.2 shots a game. That's not terrible efficiency. With a guy like Rondo and with more experience/good coaching that would improve more.

His defense is definitely very mediocre, but he's a very smart and effort-giving player, which lends itself to a team defense system. His individual defense will improve with maturity as well.

He's 22 years old averaging 20.6 PPG and 15.5 rebounds. He's going to be a star.

Kevin Love is poor at creating his own shot when he plays against good defensive teams.

His big scoring nights come against teams that are usually weak overall defensive squads + have a defensive liability at PF.

good thing we have Rondo

Love has put up 20 points+ against

   MIA - 7-11FG'S
   ORL - 8-19 FG'S
   LAL - 7-17 FGS
   NYK - 11-26 FG'S
   ATL - 7-15 FG'S
   CHAR - 8-16FG'S
   LAC - 7-11 FGS
   OKC - 10-17 FGS
   SAS - 11-19FG'S
   GSW - 6-16 FG'S
   SAS - 8-18 FG'S
   CLE - 8-15
   NYK - 10-18
   OKC - 7-22
   DET - 10-14
   CHI - 9-15
   PHO - 7-15
   DEN - 14-23
   UTAH - 7-20
   DEN - 9 -19
NJN - 7-12
TOTAL = 49%

so he is shooting almost 50% in the games where he scores 20 points (21 of 35 games). He doesn't really have a pg to speak of either. Imagine if he was running the fast break with Rondo....

This kid has a motor, he can start the fast break by
rebounding(#1 in the NBA) and can beat his man up the floor to finish fast break
good 3pt shooter(42%)(#18 in the nba)  
gets to the line 6.5 times per game(top 20 in the nba)  
He is grabbing 4.5ORPG(# 1 in the NBA)
And he shoots 87% from the line(#14 in the NBA)
Whats not to like about that....

 He can easily learn to play team defense

Dwight Howard would be my first choice for 2012 free agents if he opts out, but if not Love is right at the top of the list .

[Meadowlark_Scal]

He leads the league in rebounding and is in the top 25 on scoring in the league...! I like him....!

[GranTur]

I would take Kevin Love over Dwight any day.

Dwight to me is a loser. I've never seen the eye of the tiger in that kid...folds in the playoffs.

Dwight gets frustrated very easily. He complains on EVERY SINGLE foul call. He's undisciplined and quite clearly, his offense will never develop more. He had his chance working an entire offseason with Hakeem...nothing happened. Hakeem schooled him lol

Kevin Love has those Celtic qualities. He is ridiculously sacrificing.

[Greenbean]

Kevin Love isn't worth a max contract, but I think the Twolves will give him one.

Agree completely... I certainly wouldnt want Love in Boston with a max contract. Actually I wouldnt want Love as our post big three cornerstone either.

I think him and Perk would compliment each other very well. That being said, you are right about him not being a cornerstone. He would be a piece. You would still need a go to scorer.