Kevin Love just signed an extension earlier this year, but unless the Timberwolves start winning, his long-term future might not be in Minnesota.
The forward, who was recently selected for his first Team USA Olympic appearance, expressed his frustration with the Timberwolves direction in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, saying “I’m not afraid to go on the record” about his feelings.
Love, who agreed to a four-year, $62 million extension with the Timberwolves in January, averaged 26.0 points and 13.3 rebounds for Minnesota last season. But the 23-year-old Love is the only member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that doesn’t have an NBA playoff appearance.
“My patience is not high,” Love told Yahoo! Sports. “Would yours be, especially when I’m a big proponent of greatness surrounding itself with greatness? All these (Team USA) guys seem to have great players around them.
“It’s tough seeing all these guys that are young and older who have all played in the playoffs. When they start talking about that, I have nothing to talk about. If I don’t make the playoffs next year I don’t know what will happen.”
Love said he’s happy with his contract, “but like anybody else, I want to win.”
Injuries to Love (concussion) and point guard Ricky Rubio (knee) helped to derail the Timberwolves last season en route to a 26-40 record. Still, the 26 victories were the franchise’s most since the 2006-07 season.
Timberwolves general manager David Kahn told Yahoo! Sports that he has spoken to Love about the team’s plans.
“I’m sure Kevin has a sense of urgency,” Kahn told the website. “I think the team demonstrated it could win last season before we were hit with a cascade of injuries. I thought we were on the right track and surely we would have competed for the eighth and final playoff spot if we remained healthy. Next season is shaping up to be better than last year.
“Under Kevin’s leadership, I would expect him to compete for the playoffs. The one thing we can’t control is injuries. I’m hopeful for a healthy year.”
So far this offseason, Minnesota has verbally agreed to a contract with guard Brandon Roy and traded for Rockets forward Chase Budinger. Love told Yahoo! Sports that he approved of their additions, but still wants more help.
“We need to make some moves. We can’t just stand still. We have to make this happen,” he told the website.
–ESPN
