Jesse Johnson – USA Today Sports Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have had one of the most productive off-seasons in the league. After earning the dubious honor of the worst three-point shooting team in the NBA in the 2012-2013 season, the Wolves went out a re-signed Chase Budinger and added the hot-shooting Kevin Martin. They also added energy with Corey Brewer and two high-potential draft picks in Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng.
Minnesota’s free agency signings this season are going to be huge for this team that is looking to finally find its way back into the postseason. However, people seem to be forgetting the biggest addition that the Wolves are going to get in the 2013-2014 season: the return of the star big man Kevin Love.
Love played just 18 games for the Timberwolves last season after breaking and then re-breaking his hand. Because of that, he never really got into a rhythm last season, averaging 18.3 points, 14 rebounds and 2.3 assists on just 35.2 percent shooting last year. Don’t let that fool you, though. When he’s healthy, Love is one of the best power forwards in the league.
In the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season, Love averaged a ridiculous line of 26 points, 13.3 rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 37.2 percent from three, solid percentages for the near sole source of offense in Minnesota.
Love will turn just 25 years old in September and is already one of the most dynamic forwards in the league. He can score in the post and from the outside and is obviously one of the elite rebounders in the game. Sure, the additions of Martin and Brewer will be huge helps, but forgetting how huge getting Kevin Love back is going to be would be a mistake.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google+ and like his Facebook page.
