The Kevin Love saga marches on, and there’s likely not going to be an official resolution reached for at least another month, while newly-signed players in both Cleveland and Chicago -- the most likely destinations for Love to land in any trade -- are forced to wait a league-mandated 30 days before they can be dealt.
In case the Timberwolves are thinking about letting this drag on even further, and possibly entering the season with Love still on the roster in hopes that a strong start might change his mind about being open to re-upping in Minnesota, well -- that ship has apparently sailed.
From Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Basketball Insiders):If the Timberwolves are still hoping they can persuade Kevin Love not to opt out of his contract after next season, they can give up hope.
The all-star forward is adamant about leaving, either by forcing a trade or on his own. For a variety of reasons, there is no chance he will change his mind.
Had the Wolves, however, given Love a maximum five-year contract instead of four years in 2012, he would not have wanted out of Minnesota.
There was a time when that last part might have been true, but I’m not so sure the franchise’s failure to lock up Love on a max extension really is factoring that much into his decision at present.
Minnesota’s inability to make the postseason, failure to surround Love with a consistent level of talent, and revolving door at the head coaching position are all likely bigger issues for him now than the fact the team (under a now fired GM in David Khan) failed to offer him the full contract extension he was seeking.
The Timberwolves playing in a small market where no free agents will willingly sign certainly doesn’t help, and the fact that Love is looking at immediate championship contention playing alongside LeBron James in Cleveland is better than anything Minnesota could offer -- which is why the decision he’s already made to leave one way or another is an easy one to justify.