Glen Taylor (owner) wants to keep K. Love

[sed522002]

In an NBA TV interview during a Wolves summer league game Wednesday, Taylor said he wants the all-star power forward to play in Minnesota this season despite rampant trade speculation.

It was not known if Taylor was bluffing amid reports that some of the trade offers aren't as rich as previously envisioned.

"My preference is that Kevin will come to (training) camp -- and I'm sure he will -- and play with the team," Taylor said.

Love, who can opt out of his contract next July, repeatedly has said all he wants to do is win.

"I say back to Kevin, 'Well, that's all I want, too,' " Taylor said.

"My response is that we are going to look at everything that makes sense that would make our team better," Taylor told NBA TV, "but we are not going to move a superb player like that without getting equal or more value back."

NBA TV analyst Steve Smith, who interviewed Taylor, said the Wolves could push for a playoff spot in the rough-and-tumble Western Conference this season.

Taylor concurred.

"I think our team is just on the border," Taylor said. "We lost too many close games last year, and having Kevin Love there as, right now, the heart of our team ... I would like to have Kevin back and play under Flip (Saunders) and see how the coaches will utilize him with the other players."

http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_26163648/timberwolves-taylor-i-want-kevin-love-team-this

He may be posturing or he may be serious. We really don't know.

[Roy H.]

Have the Twolves done anything to upgrade their roster this off-season?  Despite their best player wanting out?

The fact that the Twolves seem to be standing pat, and that they spent their draft pick on a high upside player who won't contribute immediately, tells me that they're not serious about filling in the roster around Love.

[MVP]

That's the most likely scenario. Minnesota is probably not going to trade Love during the offseason (unless they get blow away with an offer) and hope that the team improves enough to make the playoffs this year which would help convince Love to stay along with the Wolves being able to offer the most money. That's also why I think Ainge stays pat for now (ie. not trading Rondo). If midway through the year the Wolves are not looking too good and out of the playoff picture, we would have even more assets to offer the Wolves (resigned Bradley, Thornton's expiring deal, Zeller) then we can during the offseason.

[sed522002]

Have the Twolves done anything to upgrade their roster this off-season?  Despite their best player wanting out?

The fact that the Twolves seem to be standing pat, and that they spent their draft pick on a high upside player who won't contribute immediately, tells me that they're not serious about filling in the roster around Love.

The fact that they think that they're making the playoffs, in a very strong West, without making any of the aforementioned moves you stated lets me know where their mind is.

[Fafnir]

Have the Twolves done anything to upgrade their roster this off-season?  Despite their best player wanting out?

The fact that the Twolves seem to be standing pat, and that they spent their draft pick on a high upside player who won't contribute immediately, tells me that they're not serious about filling in the roster around Love.

I think they're serious about waiting till the trade deadline to make a move with him.

I wouldn't be shocked if the harbor the LMA fantasy of having an aberration start and suddenly KL loving Minnesota enough to stay. That sort of wishful thinking is just the kind of thing a coach/GM like flip would encourage in an owner.

[saltlover]

If he is serious, he should have thought about that before publicly insulting Love during the contract negotiations two-and-a-half years ago.

[sed522002]

If he is serious, he should have thought about that before publicly insulting Love during the contract negotiations two-and-a-half years ago.

Yep and the obvious pushing of making Rubio the new face of the franchise..wonder if he'll get that  max his agent is supposedly requesting 

[beklog]

If he is serious, he should have thought about that before publicly insulting Love during the contract negotiations two-and-a-half years ago.

Well.... Minny's management simply just being themselves...
they're really awful since KG's era....

[gpap]

Maybe he's bluffing, but I think it's safe to say the Kevin Love thing is a dead issue.

Maybe next summer when he's a free agent and we don't have to deal with those losers in Minnesota.

[D.o.s.]

There's some evidence to suggest that the Timberwolves should've made the playoffs last season.

I'm sure Flip has shown it to their owner.

[gpap]

There's some evidence to suggest that the Timberwolves should've made the playoffs last season.

I'm sure Flip has shown it to their owner.

Not really.

Other than Kevin Love, the team sucks and the Western Conference is stacked.

[D.o.s.]

There's some evidence to suggest that the Timberwolves should've made the playoffs last season.

I'm sure Flip has shown it to their owner.

Not really.

Other than Kevin Love, the team sucks and the Western Conference is stacked.

There is, actually. I can't dig it up right now, but I believe it has something do with their abnormal penchant for blowing winnable games and some other fairly legitimate metric. I think it was in a Lowe article, but I don't have time to look for it at the moment.

[moiso]

If he is serious, he should have thought about that before publicly insulting Love during the contract negotiations two-and-a-half years ago.

Well.... Minny's management simply just being themselves...
they're really awful since KG's era....

and the Pooh Richardson era.

[McHales Pits]

That statistic you are referring to...I recall seeing/reading/hearing it as well.

Something along the lines of best point differential for a non-playoff team in some-odd number of years. They lost like a dozen games by single digits. Yadda yadda ya.

Hey Taylor - your player wants out. Either move him or get nothing.

[beklog]

There's some evidence to suggest that the Timberwolves should've made the playoffs last season.

I'm sure Flip has shown it to their owner.

Not really.

Other than Kevin Love, the team sucks and the Western Conference is stacked.

There is, actually. I can't dig it up right now, but I believe it has something do with their abnormal penchant for blowing winnable games and some other fairly legitimate metric. I think it was in a Lowe article, but I don't have time to look for it at the moment.

Are you talking about this? Pythagorean win percentage

"Here are the current standings of the 11 Western Conference teams with seemingly realistic playoff hopes:

1. Spurs, 31-8
2. Trail Blazers, 29-9
3. Thunder, 29-10
4. Clippers, 27-13
5. Rockets, 26-15
6. Warriors, 25-15
7. Suns, 22-16
8. Mavericks, 23-17
9. Nuggets, 20-18
10. Grizzlies, 19-19
11. Timberwolves, 18-20

And here are the standings if we used Pythagorean win percentage, historically a better indicator of future success than standard win percentage:

1. Spurs, 29-10
2. Thunder, 28-11
3. Trail Blazers, 27-11
4. Clippers, 27-13
5. Warriors, 26-14
6. Timberwolves, 24-14
7. Rockets, 25-16
8. Suns, 22-16
9. Mavericks, 22-18
10. Nuggets, 20-18
11. Grizzlies, 18-20

However, even if they immediately begin playing like the team Pythagorean win percentage says they are, their 18-20 start will weigh down their record. Here’s what the end-of-season standings will look like if each team wins at their current Pythagorean rate the rest of the year:

1. Spurs, 63-19
2. Thunder, 60-22
2. Trail Blazers, 60-22
4. Clippers, 55-27
5. Warriors, 52-30
6. Rockets, 51-31
7. Suns, 47-35
8. Timberwolves, 46-36
8. Mavericks, 46-36
10. Nuggets, 43-39
11. Grizzlies, 40-42
"

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/17/rick-adelman-to-minnesota-timberwolves-if-you-think-youre-a-playoff-team-why-dont-you-just-forget-it/