Timberwolves owner: Kevin Love might regret trade because he’ll be third banana with Cavaliers

Dan Gilbert set the standard for how not to handle a superstar leaving.

But the Cavaliers owner didn’t create the only example to follow.

Heat owner Micky Arison offered a much more graceful alternative.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor – who just traded Kevin Love to the Cavaliers – chose a middle road, albeit one that runs for too close to Gilbert’s lead. No matter what praise Taylor has bestowed upon Love, the owner’s negative tone resonates today.

Taylor, via Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com

“I question Kevin if this is going to be the best deal for him because I think he’s going to be the third player on a team. I don’t think he’s going to get a lot of credit if they do really well. I think he’ll get the blame if they don’t do well. He’s going to have to learn to handle that.

“I think he’s around a couple guys are awful good. Now I’m not saying that Kevin’s not good, but I think where maybe he got away with some stuff, not playing defense on our team, I’m not sure how that’s going to work in Cleveland. So I would guess they’re going to ask him to play more defense. And he’s foul-prone,” Taylor said.

“I think Kevin, his offensive skills got better than I think we estimated. The only thing that I still have a question mark about will be his health. I had that concern then, I still have that concern and I think Cleveland should have that concern, too,” Taylor said. “If they sign him to a five-year contract like they’re thinking about, I mean that’s a big contract in a guy that’s had sometimes where he’s missed games.”

if he could do it all over again, Taylor said he would have signed Love to the five-year maximum contract in 2012.

Yes, Love must adjust to no longer being his team’s best player. That could take time, though his respect for LeBron James should help. But Love is better than Kyrie Irving. Much better – and I like Irving.

And why is Taylor just pointing out now what Love got away with in Minnesota? If Love’s defensive effort wasn’t good enough, someone should have held him accountable. It’s on Taylor to establish that organizational culture.

The owner’s specific example, being foul prone, is flat wrong. Love committed just 2.4 fouls per 100 possessions last season – 462nd fewest of 482 NBA players and the lowest mark among Timberwolves.

As far as injuries, Love played 77 games last season. Yes, he played just 18 games the year prior due to breaking his hand twice and then having knee surgery. However, I’ve never believe a player suffering injuries making him injury prone. Randomness exists. I’d be more convinced if a doctor – rather than a billionaire – evaluated Love and determined he’s predisposed to injures.

That infamous five-year contract David Kahn refused to give Love in 2012? At least Taylor realized allowing that was a mistake.

Maybe Taylor will eventually say, if he could do it all over again, he’d speak better of Love in 2014.