Hailing from the sunny beaches of Santa Monica, California, Kevin Love is an NBA talent unlike any we’ve seen before. The near seven-footer has 3-point range, elite rebounding ability, and the most impeccable footwork east of Kansas City. After being nabbed fifth in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love almost immediately established himself as a trademark superstar.
Let The Kevin Love Circus Begin
While the Southern California native was enjoying the fruits of success, his franchise was not. In Love’s six-year tenure, the Timberwolves have been able to win over 30 games in just one season. While he certainly shoulders some of the blame, the poor play is hardly Love’s wrongdoing. The three time All-Star is currently the only NBA player to be top five in both rebounding and scoring. The steady decline of Ricky Rubio and the inability to sustain a reliable outside shooter are among the legitimate reasons for the T-Wolves decline. A missed postseason in 2014 will mark a 10-year playoff drought. Something the Minnesota star will not stand for.
“If I don’t make the playoffs next year I don’t know what will happen,” said Love before the 2012-13 season.
That hit-or-miss season has passed. And, you guessed it, the Timberwolves missed. Whoops.
Of course, consistent shortcomings should come as no surprise for the Minneapolis franchise who seem to destroy seasons in their sleep. It was only seven years ago when their mismanagement and immaturity drove future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett out of town. In 2012, Garnett was even quoted saying, “As far as that franchise, I have nothing positive to say.”
Neither do we, KG.
All things considered, Kevin Love does not have an extended future with the T-Wolves. When his contract expires at the end of the 2014-15 season, he will most likely be out. Or, Minnesota will elect to trade him. If the opportunity presents itself, and it would have to be a golden opportunity, we could see Love headed for a new city before the end of his expiring deal. The Timberwolves owe their stud just over $30 million until the summer of 2015, certainly not pocket change. If the Wolves elect to trade, the recipient will only have Love under contract for one year. The Los Angeles Lakers recently made this costly mistake when snagging Dwight Howard for a one-year deal.
As far as his future destination, all things point to Love heading back home to Los Angeles to join the Lakers. It would be hard to blame him for heading to L.A. The chance to be a part of a historic franchise, a long awaited homecoming, and the numerous cultural benefits that Los Angeles boasts are far too difficult to ignore. Because, let’s face it, southern California has a few advantages over central Minnesota. Just watch the movie Fargo, then watch an episode of 90201. You’ll see. I’d imagine that Kevin Love, like most of us, prefers warm weather and celebrity surroundings over frigid cold and unreliable management.
In all reality, the T-Wolves have Kevin Love inked for another year and a half, and they plan on using as much of that as they can. A number of teams have come calling for Love’s services next season, but, from Minnesota’s standpoint, dealing him this year would be a hurried decision. Flip Saunders and his corporate team will most likely evaluate every last option for their franchise player; a process that would almost definitely reach into next season.
From now until the summer of 2015, Kevin Love will become the face of NBA uncertainty. To the media, every denver omelette Love eats is a subliminal message to the Nuggets. We all know how absurd this process can be. Just ask LeBron James.
So, hang on tight Minnesota fans, because the next year and a half will have a whole lot of uncomfortable interviews, misleading headlines, and generally uninterested play. When it comes to the future of the Minnesota Timberwolves, there will definitely be some ‘Love’ lost.
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