Kevin Love on his tenure in Minnesota: ‘I loved my time there’
During the time in which Kevin Love’s impending trade dominated NBA headlines, Love was often labeled as a disgruntled star. While it seemingly fit because he wanted out, it wrongly implied that Love had a huge dislike for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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That wasn’t the case as Love made it known he enjoyed his tenure with the franchise.
"When asked about his time with the Wolves, where he played six seasons but never made the playoffs, Love said Tuesday that he felt he had a good relationship with Taylor.“I loved my time there, the people of Minnesota were great,” Love said. “I really developed a lot of relationships all the way down through the organization through ownership.”"
It’s easy to see why one would think Love and the Timberwolves were at emotional odds, but a misstep from Glen Taylor, the Timberwolves owner, is the reason why this entire scenario occurred in the summer of 2014. When it was time for Kevin Love to receive his rookie extension, instead of delivering an offer that included a five-year deal, the Timberwolves signed Love to a deal that offered an out after the third and fourth season. This move didn’t sit well with Love and a deal further down the line, Nikola Pekovic’s five-year rookie extension to be exact, pushing Love to want out of Minnesota more.
Glen Taylor: "the only thing I still have a ? About is health. Had a concern (when gave love 4 years) and I still have that concern ..."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) August 26, 2014
Glen Taylor: "knowing what I know now I would've signed Kevin to the five years."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) August 26, 2014
Coincidentally, the wonky deal offered to Love a few years back paved the way for the Timberwolves landing one heck of a pot as they shipped off Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return, the Wolves received the 2013 number one overall pick Anthony Bennett, 2014 number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins, and talented power forward Thaddeus Young.
Call it a business deal that was likely going to happen eventually due to Love not being treated delicately during his time with the Timberwolves. There’s no love lost between the two parties, but what’s done is done and the two have gone their separate ways–a move done of the best.