Kevin Love is one of the most promising young big men in the league. Kurt Rambis and the Timberwolves organization seem to know it, as they’ve cleared Al Jefferson out of the way to give Love more room to stretch his legs. At the same time, the Wolves have loaded up on forwards this off-season, many of whom will likely log minutes at the 4.
Maybe the Timberwolves really have seen the light, and realized that if the triangle offense is in Minnesota to stay, Kevin Love is godsend. A sweet-passing big that hits the glass harder than just about anyone in the league? With a decent post game and a nice face-up jumper? That should be the type of player any coach running the triangle kills for. Yet Love’s 28.6 minutes per game last year exemplifies the lack of appreciation for his game his game in Minnesota. The Wolves were the worst team in the NBA last season, and they couldn’t find the time to play Love, one of their top players and a truly elite rebounder, starter’s minutes.
It’s obvious that something isn’t right in Minny. You know it, I know it, and Kevin Love knows it. From John Schuhmann of NBA.com:
Love was asked Tuesday if he felt more appreciated with the U.S. Team than with the Timberwolves.
“Yes,” he responded. “Just a solid yes.”
But he was quick to clarify.
“I don’t want to come off sounding like a prima donna or sound like I’m complaining or anything,” Love said. “I just feel like, since I’ve been here, it’s really been a great team atmosphere. We feel like we have a chance to win this whole thing. I think everybody is just coming in with a great attitude and appreciating everybody as a whole, and really becoming a family.
“I’m just saying in a 15-win season, last year with the Timberwolves, a lot of stuff happened...a lot of new players...we had blown up that team. Heading into this year, we need to just start becoming a family, kind of like it is here, and integrate that family atmosphere into the Timberwolves.”