Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love talks about Phoenix Suns
Feb 25, 2014, 8:09 PM | Updated: 8:10 pm
Everyone would like to assume that Kevin Love will leave the Minnesota Timberwolves via a player option that allows him to do so following the 2014-15 season.
Everyone, that is, except for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies — and subsequently traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves — the former UCLA Bruin has established himself as one of the premier forwards in the NBA.
This season, the 25-year-old is averaging 26.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game. A three-time All-Star, there would be no shortage of suitors should he reach the free agent market.
Given his west coast roots, the prevailing thought is if he does leave Minnesota Love, who was born in California and grew up in Oregon, would prefer to be closer to the Pacific Ocean.
And wouldn’t you know it, the Phoenix Suns — who are set up nicely with a young roster and plenty of cap space — are kind of close to the Pacific Ocean!
Could there be a match?
Love and the Timberwolves are in Phoenix to play the Suns Tuesday night, and the power forward had some nice things to say about his next opponent.
“Coach (Hornacek) has them playing hard,” Love said. “They have a lot of confidence. Their offense is very fitting for the team that they have. (Goran) Dragic has been playing awesome basketball all year.
“Guys can really shoot the ball, spread the floor. They’re different in a way that when they offensive rebound, some of the time they don’t put it back. They kick it out for another three; miss another shot, kick it out for another three. That kind of just drains a team.”
Rebounds and three-point shots…hmmm…those are two of Love’s specialties. This season, the 6-foot-10, 243-pound player is hitting .378 of his three-point attempts, and is a career 36 percent shooter from deep.
He’d appear to be a good fit for the Suns, but then again, he’d probably be a good fit with most teams in the NBA and in other leagues around the world.
When asked if the Suns are the type of team Love was hoping his T’Wolves would become, he admitted that few expected Phoenix to be as good as they are.
“We had all our chances; we still have a chance to do some work here,” he said. “It starts with tonight.”
