Kevin Love Will Not Commit To A Max Contract With The Minnesota Timberwolves

Published: 22^nd Jan 12 7:58 pm

by Joshua Casey
Joshua Casey

2 Rants

Kevin Love Will Not Commit To A Max Contract With The Minnesota Timberwolves

Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

A big topic of discussion in the NBA as of late has been the possible landing spots for Dwight Howard and whether or not Deron Williams will re-sign with the New Jersey Nets or possibly be traded before the Match NBA trade deadline. But one player has seemed to slip through the cracks of many people talking basketball lately and it is hard to imagine that he would considering the fact that he is now the best power forward in the NBA. That player is Kevin Love who has now immersed himself as not only the best power forward in the NBA but one of the best players in the entire league.

So it seems that the Timberwolves would do anything within their means to keep Love in Minnesota for a long time right? Well the Wolves have done their part but now the other piece of the equation, Love, doesn’t seem willing to commit to the Wolves who have offered him a max contract. In an interview with ESPN1500.com Love made a few questionable comments such as this one when he was asked his opinion on how good he really is, “I believe I’m the best ’4′ in the league,” Love said. “I think you have to believe that you’re the best. I think Muhammad Ali even said, ‘I was the greatest before I knew I was.’ I think everybody needs to have that mindset. That’s part of winning the mind game from the very start. You have to believe it. You have to hold yourself accountable.”

Some may call this comment by Love arrogant but as Love said you have to have confidence and believe in yourself especially when so many others did not. Coming out of UCLA, where Love went to college, many people doubted Love’s NBA readiness, since he had only one year of college experience, and stated that he would just be another bust in the NBA. Another thing to note is that Love’s comments cannot be counted as arrogant if he backs them up as often as he does, but I digress.

Love continued the interview and midway through he talked about his contract situation with the Timberwolves and whether or not he would re-sign with the team so famous for letting Kevin Garnett, in his prime, get away for essentially nothing. Much to the chagrin of Timberwolves fans everywhere Love stated that he would not re-sign with the T-Wolves if they offered him a max contract, which is exactly what they have done. It will be interesting to see if Love sticks to his guns or if the sight of an eight figure paycheck will be too much to turn down.

It is also interesting to note that sources close to Love have disclosed that he does not really wish to return to Minnesota and he may in fact not be happy there due to their constant losing. Love is a winner and wants to be in a winning environment. If in fact Love does not re-sign then he will either be traded before the March trade deadline or will become a restricted free-agent this summer and a very highly coveted one at that. The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to work a deal for Love, Love was born in Santa Monica and attended UCLA college but did grow up in Oregon and he would not be against a return to Los Angeles, they would be the one team to watch out for if Love does indeed become available.

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