Kevin Love is not a free agent until 2015 and already he is the apple of every team's eyes. Arguably one of the best young forwards in the game, most teams are under the assumption that Love has no intentions of remaining with the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves and can convince the team to trade him this summer before losing him for nothing. However, the Timberwolves believe they have an upper hand with Love in the form of money.
According to the Pioneer Press, if Love opts out of his contract with Minnesota after next season, any other team can offer a four-year deal worth at least twice the amount of money the Timberwolves can. That certainly sounds appealing to Love. However, the Timberwolves can also offer him a fifth year extension worth $26 million more than other teams. That means if Love departs from Minnesota, he is leaving $26 million on the table. Is that incentive enough to stay? Signing the max contract means he devotes one more season to the Timberwolves, but banks a nice $26 million as a result. That is not bad for one more year.
Most teams are under the impression that Love is ready to win and right now the Timberwolves are not in the position to do so. The Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are just a few teams hoping to persuade the Timberwolves to trade the forward now instead of hoping he signs the extension. The Pioneer Press continues their reports saying the team is shutting down any idea that they might be trading Love or Ricky Rubio this offseason, no matter the offer.
The Timberwolves are coming off another season where the talents of Love and Rubio were wasted and the team has to start making some changes to improve. Minnesota is hoping that retaining both Love and Rubio gives them the chance of signing at least one or two big names this summer. Minnesota would rather try and build around Love and Rubio this season rather than trade them even if the risk is both players eventually departing for nothing in return.
