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By now, I'm sure most of you have read the article published on Yahoo! Sports about Kevin Love and the Timberwolves' front office. If not, here it is: Kevin Love unsure about Timberwolves' future. Most of us realize this isn't anything new from Kevin Love, just three months prior Kevin Love spoke to the media and made a statement with ultimately the same quotes and jabs at the Wolves front office and his uncertainty of his future in Minnesota. I already knew all this information reading that article, however it didn't keep my heart from dropping. For the first time in years the Wolves are a bonafide playoff team around a core of Love, Rubio, Kirilenko and Pek. I was mad when he initially made those comments, however this time I was just fearful for the Wolves' future. I agree that the timing of this article and to bring up all these issues was poor on Love's part, especially since the Wolves were at the time a .500 team and very much in the playoff hunt while awaiting the return of Ricky Rubio. I think it's clear that there's plenty behind the scenes we don't know about and I personally believe it stems from owner Glen Taylor. Kevin Garnett spent the majority of his career here, however upon his departure it was clear the Wolves front office left a sour taste in his mouth. Was it Kevin McHale? Perhaps. Glen Taylor? More likely. Kevin Love clearly holds a grudge against David Kahn. I think we all know there aren't many in the NBA circles that have nothing but nice things to say about David. I guarantee there will be an uproar if Kahn is extended and the Wolves have to trade Love to a big market like L.A. or if he declines that player option and leaves for absolutely nothing. There's not a doubt in my mind that Kevin Love was deserving of that 5-year $80million extension. My stance on that was solidified when James Harden received that identical extension when he was traded from the Thunder to the Rockets prior to the start of the 2012-13 season. Harden is a top 40 player in this League and a top 10 shooting guard, however I can't fathom him getting that kind of extension and a bonafide all-star like Kevin Love who is clearly a franchise cornerstone, not getting that top dollar amount. Although David Kahn and Glen Taylor deny it, it's pretty clear that they're saving that big extension for Ricky Rubio (they can only offer it to one player). Rubio is Kahn's guy, David drafted him and finally convinced him to come to Minnesota last season (likely what saved his job when Taylor picked up the option on his contract this summer). Kevin Love has said he loves Ricky and he'll be happy for him and won't hold any grudges if he gets the big extension. David Kahn doesn't seem to worried about all of this as he knows that the Wolves can offer Kevin the most money. I find this to be a shortsighted stance, Kevin Love maintains that he wants to play for a contender. If Dwight Howard resigns in L.A. after this season, can you imagine a Kevin Love-Dwight Howard frontcourt?! They'd average 60 rebounds a night as a team! I do feel that if Love was to leave Minnesota (says he will if they don't have a contender in two years) that L.A. is his most likely destination. The biggest thing that stood out for me was what Kahn and Taylor had to say about Kevin Love. Ultimately that he wasn't a franchise player, because he hadn't led the team to a playoff appearance yet. If I was Love, I'd be furious about that. This is a guy who has spent his NBA career proving people wrong while transforming his body and his game to become the greatest power forward in the NBA today! The reason the Wolves haven't had a playoff team is because of poor roster decisions. Wesley Johnson, Jonny Flynn, Darko Milicic, etc. The Wolves have finally shown some sensibility this offseason with the additions of Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Chase Budinger and Dante Cunningham. However I attribute that almost 100% to Adelman. Kahn had plenty of chances at smart roster moves in the past and instead signed Darko to a 4-year $20million deal, drafted two points in the 2009 draft (luckily Ricky is working out--Flynn on the other hand is playing ball in Australia now) as well as their 2010 (Wesley Johnson) and 2011 (Derrick Williams) draft choices. Wesley was awful last season and is now playing in Phoenix, unable to crack the rotation and Williams is biding his time as it's become clear he's on the way out. Lest we not forget hiring Kurt Rambis as our head coach. Honestly, I pray David Kahn doesn't have his hands on this franchise after this season, however Glen Taylor likes him and it's all but certain he'll remain the President of Basketball Operations. If Kevin Love is gone after two years and the Wolves have nothing or next to nothing to show for it the Timberwolves front office will only have themselves to blame. Thanks for reading HOWL and GO WOLVES!
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Cody AndersonA TWolves fan, bringing you the daily updates. News Archives
August 2017
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