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Kevin Love News & Rumors

Kevin Love still waiting for his three-point shootout invitation
February 11
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Kevin Love's participation in the Three-Point Shootout during NBA All-Star Weekend has not been confirmed, but the Timberwolves forward hopes to compete in the contest. Love is still waiting on a formal invitation, although he said Thursday night during his all-star selection teleconference that he would be participating. "It's being talked about," said Love, who leads the Wolves with 42 three-pointers. "I'm trying to get the invite. If I'm invited, I'm bringing sexy back to the three-point contest." Love was 0 for 3 on three-point attempts in the Wolves' 104-97 loss to Dallas on Friday night and is shooting 36.8 percent (42 of 114) for the season. His percentage is not among the top 50 in"
Kevin Love is relieved that his break is over
February 11
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Al Jefferson broke a television while watching his Timberwolves play as he rehabilitated from knee surgery at his Golden Valley home a few years ago. Only Kevin Love's kitchen speakers didn't survive the two-game NBA suspension that ended in time for Friday's home loss to Dallas. Love blew out his speakers when he turned up the volume at the end of Tuesday's two-point victory over Sacramento, which he watched from his Minneapolis high-rise while providing running game commentary on Twitter. On Friday, the league's leader in minutes played went back to work after getting some much needed, if forced, rest. "It's got to help him some, but it's a heck of a way to help, though," Wolves coach"
Kevin Love is an NBA all-star again
February 10
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Kevin Love didn't have to wait for a phone call this time from NBA Commissioner David Stern. Leading the NBA with 22 double-doubles and having established himself as one of the league's most consistent players, it was a safe assumption that the Timberwolves forward would be one of seven reserves named Thursday to the Western Conference roster for the Feb. 26 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla. The season-long endorsement of TNT analyst Charles Barkley hasn't hurt, either. Barkley has labeled Love the "best power forward in the NBA," making Love's second all-star selection even more of a formality. Now Love has one more reason to celebrate when he rejoins the Wolves (13-13) for tonight's"
Love knows he belongs among All Stars this time
February 10
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Western Conference coaches on Thursday invited Timberwolves forward Kevin Love to his second NBA All-Star Game, one year after Commissioner David Stern named him as an injury replacement for his first. "It definitely feels different," Love said on Thursday evening. It feels different because his team has won more times in 24 games during this lockout-shortened season than it did in the first 48 games a year ago. It feels different because he had an "inkling" coaches would select him and because he was invited Thursday morning to appear on TNT's announcement show hours later that night. He'll also soon accept an offer to participate in All-Star weekend's three-point shooting contest. A year"
After stomp and suspension, Love vows to manage emotions
February 7
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"His coach didn't think so, but Timberwolves forward Kevin Love called Monday's NBA-imposed, two-game suspension "warranted" and vowed he won't step on anybody's face and chest again. Just when the Wolves have reached a .500 record, Love will miss Tuesday's home game against Sacramento and Wednesday's game at Memphis because of a moment in Saturday's victory over Houston in which the league deemed he drove his left sneaker into Rockets forward Luis Scola's chin and chest. Game officials didn't call a foul on the play, but the league ruled it a flagrant foul type 2 on Monday. Love will also be docked a corresponding $83,000-plus from his paycheck for the two-game suspension. Love said he"
NBA suspends Love for two games
February 6
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The NBA on Monday suspended Wolves forward Kevin Love for two games for stepping on Houston's Luis Scola's face and chest during Saturday's victory at Target Center. He will miss Tuesday's game against Sacramento and Wednesday's game at Memphis. By my calculations -- and my engineer brother will tell you I'm lousy at math -- he will lose about $83,636 in pay. The league termed Love's action "driving his foot into the upper body and face" of Scola and upgraded an incident in which no foul was called Saturday to a flagrant foul type 2. Love's stepped on Scola's face after he heated trips down the floor, one when he scored on a third-effort putback after shouldering Scola to the floor and the"
Love's story — he had nowhere else to put his big feet … won't fly. Suspension for Kevin Love should be coming.
February 5
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Jonathan Feigen
"Despite their best efforts, Kevin Love and the Timberwolves should have no chance of convincing the NBA it was just a Love tap. Love went Savion Glover on Luis Scola's face. Love might be one of the league's best young players, but the league presumably still frowns on players treating other players' faces as starting blocks. Knowing he is in jeopardy of getting hit with a suspension – and this should be a no-brainer one-game suspension — Love did his best to spin the answer. In fact, he danced around it so well, he could have tap-danced on the head of a pin, which makes it difficult to buy his argument that he has feet so large, he just could not miss Scola's face. He did, however,"
Love pleads innocence over stomp on Scola
February 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"There were about 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter Saturday when Houston's Luis Scola put the ball on the floor and drove towards the basket. Timberwolves forward Kevin Love appeared to foul Scola, though none was called. But what happened next was on YouTube within minutes and had people talking after the game. Scola went to the floor. Love, as he was getting ready to run up court, stepped on Scola's face and chest with his left foot. Referees didn't see it. But that moment changed the tenor of the game. At the other end, the Rockets bench got called for a technical for complaining about the no-call. Luke Ridnour hit the free throw, extending the Wolves lead to 13. Emotionally"
Love's All-Star fate in coaches' hands
February 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"So now, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and every other remaining All-Star Game hopeful waits for NBA coaches to cast their ballots for the Feb. 26 game's reserves to be announced Thursday night on TNT. In this strange, condensed season, there's a very good chance Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki won't be invited and Memphis' Marc Gasol or Utah's Paul Millsap will. "I think you're going to have to take everything into consideration because it's a different year," New Jersey coach Avery Johnson said before Friday's 108-105 loss to the Wolves. "You don't have as many games to evaluate. It's going to a combination of what they've done this year, and I'm assuming coaches also are going to take into"
Granger goes off while the Pacers add another enemy to the list
February 2
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"Danny Granger could have easily tried to play the role of Superman without thinking about his teammates. He could have used Kevin Love's hard (could have been a flagrant) foul as an excuse to disrupt the offense by jacking up shots. This isn't a few years ago, Granger says. Back track to last season and Granger would have definitely started trying to get back at Love and the Timberwolves by shooting the ball over and over again."
Kevin Love talks smoother than Kevin Garnett's
January 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Charley Walters
"During the 1997-98 season, Glen Taylor signed star Kevin Garnett to a then-NBA-record $126 million, six-year contract. Compared with that, it wasn't difficult for the Timberwolves owner this week to sign star Kevin Love to a $62 million, four-year contract. "I've had more experience with these things," Taylor said Thursday. "I feel that I don't have to talk as much, and I feel more confident in our position. We stated right up front what our position (with Love) was, where in the other one (Garnett), it probably took a lot longer - a lot more communications, a lot more back and forth. "To me, this one was a lot more businesslike. Even though the (discussions about) length went on, I didn't"
Love deal produces some hope and anger
January 27
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Jerry Zgoda
"The four-year contract extension Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love signed in the locker room before Wednesday's victory at Dallas will bring him the option to become an unrestricted free agent three summers from now. The deal guarantees him $61 million, riches enough to buy his parents all they want and save a little something for himself, too. But the first day of the rest of his career was notable as much for what it seemed to lack than all that it brought. It lacked joy. Love had just received the rich payday for which he has worked his entire life, and his expressions and words suggested he begrudgingly accepted Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor's money. He wanted a five-year, $78"
With his future secure, Kevin Love is looking for more progress from the Timberwolves
January 26
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"His future is set, but Love wants more from Wolves After signing a four-year, $62 million contract extension Wednesday with the Timberwolves, all-star forward Kevin Love said he will continue to play with a "chip on his shoulder" after not getting the five-year deal he wanted. "The five years was something I felt very strongly about, but I can always extend on this deal when it's done," Love said during a teleconference from Dallas. "I want to see where the organization is heading, and right now it's heading in the right direction. I just want to see how things improve.""
Wolves, Love reach deal
January 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Kevin Love and the Timberwolves have reached a compromise contract this morning. The All-Star forward will get a four-year contract extension that will enable him to become a free agent after three seasons if he chooses. That would be the summer of 2015. Or the Wolves could extend this new contract two more years at that point, if both sides agree. So, in essence, this contract would be a six-year deal if that happens. The four-year contract will be worth almost $61 million."
Decision day: Love contract is NOT a done deal, not yet
January 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"By 11 p.m. Wednesday night Twin Cities time, you'll know. You'll know if Kevin Love has signed a four- or five-year contract extension -- either one at the maximum salary -- or he won't have signed at all. And that decision hasn't been made yet, not by a long shot. Contrary to reports elsewhere -- and I have waited a 27-year career to use that line -- Love HAS NOT agreed to a four-year extension that would allow the Wolves to save that designated-player status for the future. He tweeted as much tonight when he sent this one out: "If you read it on the Internet it must be true right? #sarcasm" In fact, as Tuesday rolled by, I have become more and more doubtful of what I have contended all"
Teammates hope for Love deal
January 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"With a little more than 24 hours left for the Timberwolves and Kevin Love to come to an agreement on a contract extension, Love kept quiet. After an injury-altered practice Tuesday and before the Wolves boarded a plane to Dallas, Love declined to talk about his contract status. But others did. Coach Rick Adelman talked about how Love has prevented his contract situation from affecting his play. Teammates Anthony Tolliver and Michael Beasley expressed confidence a deal would get done. Indeed, Beasley, who stayed behind due to his foot injury, jokingly volunteered to take over and get the deal done himself. "[Love] better pay me 20 percent," he said. "I'm expensive." Any deal that is"
Timberwolves' Kevin Love to sign four-year contract extension today
January 25
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Love to stay put. Timberwolves all-star Kevin Love, facing the prospect of becoming a restricted free agent after the season, is expected to sign a four-year, $62 million contract extension today, according to a person with close knowledge of the situation. Love, 23, is in Dallas with the Wolves (7-10) for tonight's game against the Mavericks. NBA teams have until 11 p.m. CST tonight to sign contract extensions with players selected in the 2008 draft."
McHale not taking any credit for Love's game
January 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and the guy who brought him to Minnesota, Kevin McHale, met before Monday's game at Target Center, the first time they have shared an NBA court since the final day of the 2008-09 season. As Wolves vice president, McHale acquired Love in a 2008 draft-night trade with Memphis for O.J. Mayo, then spent Love's rookie season teaching him about the NBA and McHale's many patented, and officially named, low-post moves, including possibly the "Slippery Eel." "He didn't teach me the name of it, but he probably taught me it," Love said before putting up 39 points and 12 rebounds in the Wolves' 107-92 loss to Houston. "I think your rookie year is when you learn the most"
Clocks ticks on Love extension
January 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"We're now not much more than a day away and counting on the NBA deadline for the Wolves to sign Kevin Love and the Wolves have yet to reach a deal on a contract extension with him. One team source told me tonight that the Wolves are closing in on a five-year maximum contract deal that would pay him more than $78 million and despite such a forthcoming deal, David Kahn hasn't won any brownie points with Love in this negotiation. Another said that as of Monday afternoon, the team still hadn't moved off its four-year, $61 million offer. I still believe the Wolves will reach a deal with Love by 11 p.m. Wednesday and it will be that five-year "designated player" deal with Love. An agreement"
Adelman for getting Love deal done
January 21
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"With the clock ticking down until Wednesday's deadline, Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman weighed in before Friday's game against the Clippers at Staples Center on All-Star forward Kevin Love's quest for a rich contract extension. Believe it or not, he's all for getting it done. "From a coaching standpoint, it's really important," he said. "He's crucial to us. I'm hoping that something is going to happen for his sake. He came out with a great start this season and, hopefully, they're going to come to some resolution. I don't know what would happen if it didn't come to fruition. That's something that we'd have to deal with at that time." If Wednesday's deadline passes and Love isn't signed to"
Love hits winning three at the horn as Wolves rally from 15 down to sink Clippers
January 21
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love had a ready-made excuse Friday night, but he never needed it after an unforgettable 101-98 comeback victory over the Clippers at Staples Center. He never needed it, not by a long shot. Or, more precisely, he never needed it exactly because of a long shot. Love's three-pointer shot from 5 feet behind the arc won a game at the final buzzer, a game in which Wolves rookie Ricky Rubio added to his already growing legend and Love, on national television, just might have dotted the I's and crossed the T's on that five-year, $78 million-plus contract extension if he really wants it. Trailing by 15 in the second quarter, by 12 with fewer than 10 minutes left and by"
It might take a five-year deal for Timberwolves to lock up Kevin Love
January 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Charley Walters
"The Pioneer Press has reported that the Timberwolves plan to offer forward Kevin Love a $60 million, four-year, NBA-maximum contract before Wednesday's deadline. The Wolves could offer Love a five-year maximum contract for approximately $80 million, but as of early this week, they were not planning to do that. The NBA's new labor deal allows each team to offer one designated player a five-year maximum contract near the end of his rookie contract. If the Wolves do that for Love, 23, they would not be able to offer a five-year maximum contract to another player, such as rookie point guard Ricky Rubio, 21. Thursday, Oklahoma City signed point guard Russell Westbrook to an $80 million,"
Rubio, Love in top 5 in All-Star Game balloting
January 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Minnesota Timberwolves rookie point guard Ricky Rubio is third among Western Conference guards in fan voting for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game and teammate Kevin Love is fifth among Western Conference forwards, according to the second ballot returns released today by the NBA. Fans worldwide are permitted to vote at www.nba.com for the starting lineups for the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams. Reserves will be chosen by the East and West coaches. The All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 26 at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. Rubio, averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 assists, has received 248,423 votes. He trails rival guards Kobe Bryant (1,110,379 votes) of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chris"
Chiseled Love has turned into building block worth the max
January 20
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"There was a time when the Timberwolves promised to become the next big thing in the NBA, when Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury caused Charles Barkley to whisper praise in their ears. Then Marbury morphed into his erratic alter-ego, Starbury, and after a dalliance with the Cassell-Sprewell axis of evil, the Wolves backslid into oblivion. The Wolves must decide by next week whether to offer Kevin Love a maximum-value contract. Sources have told the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda that they will do so. This would be the right decision, a decision much easier for them to make today than it would have been even a month ago. Once again, Barkley is praising a Timberwolf named Kevin and the Wolves"
Westbrook's deal could affect Love contract talks
January 20
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Another day closer to the deadline and a domino has fallen. Oklahoma City signed guard Russell Westbrook to a contract extension, the maximum five-year "designated player" deal worth between $78 and $80 million. That should make the Kevin Love situation a little clearer. The Timberwolves are prepared to give their star forward a maximum salary, hoping to make it a four-year deal worth nearly $61 million so they could keep that "designated player" -- basically, only one per team is allowed -- category available. The team was waiting to see what happened with Westbrook and with New Orleans star Eric Gordon. Love remained noncommittal about the process. "You have to talk to Glen [Taylor,"
Source: Wolves ready to offer Love maximum salary
January 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Six days before the league deadline, the Timberwolves are prepared to pay All-Star forward Kevin Love a maximum-salary contract, a league source said Wednesday. Unresolved is whether it will be a four-year contract approaching $61 million or a maximum five-year "designated player" deal surpassing $78 million. The NBA's new labor agreement allows every team one designated player -- a player ending his rookie contract who receives a five-year maximum-salary contract extension -- on their roster. The Wolves prefer to save that designated-player slot for the future -- to re-sign Ricky Rubio in three years, perhaps -- but their negotiations with agent Jeff Schwartz might depend on what deals"
Timberwolves likely to offer Kevin Love $60M, four-year deal
January 18
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Look for the Timberwolves to offer Kevin Love a $60 million, four-year contract extension within the next eight days. Love, 23, who is playing for $4.6 million this season, can become a restricted free agent after the season unless he signs an extension before Jan. 25. If he opts for free agency, the Wolves would have the right to match any outside offer. Love also can return to Minnesota in 2012-13 for $6.1 million and become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Wolves President David Kahn isn't commenting on contract talks, and Love says he's unaware of the status of negotiations. The Wolves, though, want to get Love signed by next week. Love, one of five players in NBA history"
Luke Ridnour-Ricky Rubio tandem leads Timberwolves past Kings
January 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Rick Adelman's concoction of two point guards on the floor at the same time doesn't seem to be that wacky after all - especially when Luke Ridnour and Ricky Rubio are able to get the job done on defense. The Timberwolves' coach has always based his preference for a point-guard tandem on whether a smaller duo can stop opposing playmakers. Adelman and a Target Center crowd of 16,159 saw further vindication in Monday night's 99-86 win over Sacramento that the Ridnour-Rubio connection is working. Even more revealing is that the duo is capable of dominating a game."
Love aims to reign over Rubio in Spain
January 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"That budding relationship between Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love continues to bloom: The two already have a July dinner date scheduled in romantic Barcelona. Love on Monday was named one of 20 finalists for a U.S. Olympic team that will play in London next summer. Only 12 ultimately will be chosen. If Love makes the cut, he will play a friendly game against Spain in Barcelona just before the Olympics. "He's buying, that's home court for him," Love said. "I told him how, if he takes it to the hole, I'm going to knock him on his butt. Hopefully, I'll be on the team.""
Kevin Love proves too much for Hornets
January 14
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"In theory, the New Orleans Hornets' game plan to neutralize Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love worked nicely for a half. But Love proved to be unstoppable in the third quarter, scoring 17 points, including the first five of the quarter that sparked a 15-2 Minnesota run, and the Timberwolves withstood a fourth-quarter Hornets surge and beat New Orleans 87-80 in front of 14,295 Friday night in the New Orleans Arena. Love finished with 34 points and 15 rebounds, and Minnesota forced the Hornets to unravel after a respectable first half of basketball. Love shot 18 free throws, making 17. The Hornets attempted just 16. Minnesota was 33-of-38 at the free-throw line; New Orleans was"
Kevin Love tells fans: Comes to Kings-Wolves and I'll treat you to Pistons tickets
January 14
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves all-star forward Kevin Love is teaming up with the NBA club on a promotion to provide free tickets to the team's Jan. 18 home game against the Detroit Pistons at Target Center. In a message to fans on his Twitter page, Love said he would buy tickets for the Detroit game for fans who purchase tickets for Monday's game (Jan. 16) against the Sacramento Kings. "Our fans have been awesome," Love wrote on his Twitter account, @kevinlove. "Buy a ticket to the Kings game, and I'll buy your seat for Detroit. Call now 612-673-1640.""
Love battling shooting slump
January 12
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"After hitting 47 percent of his shots in the Timberwolves' first eight games, Kevin Love has hit a bit of a shooting slump. Against Chicago on Tuesday, Love appeared to have a typically productive night, scoring 20 points with 13 rebounds. But he needed 18 shots to get there, hitting just five of them. The night before, in Toronto, Love hit on just three of 16 shots. He has shot 8-for-34 (23.5 percent) the past two games. And much of the problem is coming from inside the three-point line. Love connected on five of 12 three-pointers the past two games, but was only 3-for-22 (13.6 percent) on two-point attempts. "It's just tough, it's early in the season," said Love, who has had a few shots"
Adelman cool to Love's knock on Beasley
January 10
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"On Sunday, Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman remarked how well the basketball moved in a victory over the winless Wizards in Washington. Kevin Love, in a postgame comment he clarified as "just kidding," attributed that fluidity to injured Michael Beasley's absence. On Monday, Adelman was asked about Love's comment. "I think all the players, coaches and myself, we're all in this together," said Adelman, who said he wasn't aware of Love's comment. "To put our offensive struggles on Michael is not really very realistic. The whole team has struggled and everybody on this team, we all have to look at each other and ask how we're going to get better."
Love's stats dwarf Garnett's
January 5
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics will be a Basketball Hall of Fame member after his playing days. Garnett began his NBA career with the Timberwolves. But if another Timberwolves power forward named Kevin continues at his current pace, he could be headed to the Hall of Fame, too. It's early, of course, for the Wolves' Kevin Love. But through the first three years of their careers, Love and Garnett have comparable stats. Garnett, who joined the Wolves out of high school, averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds his first season. In his second season, he averaged 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds, and during his third season, 18.5 points and 9.6 rebounds. Love has been better."
T'wolves yet to offer star an extension
January 3
New York Post
 
"Just when the must-see Ricky Rubio Timberwolves, the preeminent 2-3 team in NBA history, are becoming post-Kevin Garnett relevant, I got the call yesterday I didn't want to hear. According to the messenger, All-Star Kevin Love has not been offered an extension. Think the double-double emperor's feelings are bruised? Think agent Jeff Schwartz might be putting the pressure on GM David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor to make a proposal pronto? You got that right; according to my source, if one isn't submitted by Jan. 15, 10 days before the league deadline to enrich players in Love's position (Russell Westbrook is another), then don't bother."
Timberwolves negate Kevin Love's outstanding game with 25 turnovers
December 28
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"For a rookie, Derrick Williams had a pretty good assessment on the impact of the Timberwolves' 98-95 loss Tuesday night to Milwaukee at Bradley Center. "If we have this many turnovers against Miami, we're going to get beat by 40," Williams said of the Wolves' next game Friday night against the defending NBA Eastern Conference champion at Target Center. Two games into this abbreviated regular season, Williams has learned how important it is to take care of the ball, and it appears the Wolves (0-2) are still trying to get a handle on the situation after committing 25 turnovers against the Bucks (1-1). Williams is right. The Wolves will not erase the frustration of last season's 17-win"
Deadline is big -- for Wolves and Love
December 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Chicago Bulls point guard and 2011 league MVP Derrick Rose on Tuesday agreed to a five-year, $94 million contract, a rare sum for a fourth-year player because of a new labor-agreement written purposely for him. Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love is among those next in line. Rose, Love, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, New Orleans' Eric Gordon and New Jersey's Brook Lopez, among others, are those from the 2008 draft class eligible to sign an extension of their rookie contracts by a Jan. 25 deadline. None -- with the possible exception of Westbrook -- will be able to sign for the $94 million that Rose reached because of that MVP season a year ago."
Mastering the pass is next on Love's agenda
December 13
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Times are changing at Target Center. New Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, for example, vows he will choose lineups and playing time predicated solely upon winning games rather than in the name of developing the team's young, unformed talent. That's why he is eager for veteran center Brad Miller to return sometime in January from summertime knee surgery. "I know for a fact if he's healthy and he can play, he can really help us," Adelman said. But Adelman also considers relying on a 35-year-old center who had knee surgery twice in the past two summers an investment in the future."
Slimmer Love looking for a fat contract
December 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love arrived at Target Center on Sunday morning for his first postlockout workout 25 pounds lighter than when he left following last season. He lifted weights, did some on-court conditioning and then declared himself fit and ready for an onrushing, truncated preseason that's crucial for a number of reasons. Included is an open window these next few weeks for signing a contract extension that will keep him in Minnesota. "I love Minneapolis, I love the Twin Cities," he said. "I really do like it here. I'm in a comfort zone. This is the first NBA city I fell in love with, so this is all I know. Maybe we'll keep it that way and maybe we won't.""
You'll see less of Love this season
December 2
Portland Tribune
 columnist Kerry Eggers
"When the Minnesota Timberwolves open their abbreviated 2011-12 season soon after Christmas, they'll unveil an abbreviated franchise player. After an extended offseason of honing his body, Kevin Love will no longer qualify for the "beefy" category. Minnesota's 6-9 power forward will enter training camp on Dec. 9 weighing in at 240 pounds, down about 25 from his playing weight at the end of last season. "Haven't been this low since my freshman year in high school," quips Love, 23, the former Lake Oswego High standout."
Rubio, Love, Adelman appear eager to get NBA season going
November 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"How eager were the Timberwolves to get the season going? A little birdie says point guard Ricky Rubio was in Minneapolis the other day looking at homes. All-star forward Kevin Love stopped in Minneapolis the other day to check on things. New coach Rick Adelman was in Minneapolis to meet with assistants and other staff members. The NBA lockout has been lifted. The way it looks now, if the 66-game season begins on Christmas Day as projected, the Wolves' starting lineup should be the same as the five who finished last season with 17 victories. That would be Love, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson, Darko Milicic and Luke Ridnour. But the Wolves will have two new first-round draft picks coming off"
Kevin Love turns down Besiktas offer
November 20
ESPN.com
 
"Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love informed Besiktas of Turkey on Sunday that he's declining their offer to sign with the Istanbul-based club and team up with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams. "I didn't feel it was the right decision for me at this time," Love told ESPN.com. Love, though, said playing abroad if the lockout drags on "is still very much an option" he's considering. NTV Spor of Turkey reported Friday that Love and Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng were Besiktas' top two targets in its search for an elite forward to play alongside Williams."
Sources: NBA stars plan exhibition tour
October 19
ESPN.com
 
"While NBA commissioner David Stern and players' union executive Billy Hunter meet with a federal mediator in hopes of saving the NBA season, the league's top players are finalizing plans for a two-week exhibition tour during what would have been the first two weeks of the regular season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. While the final details are still being worked out, more than a dozen of the league's best players are working to join forces on what would be a two-week, six-game, four-continent blockbuster tour, sources said. In a trip that could resemble Team USA's takeover of the world stage at the 2008 Beijing Games, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick"
NBA, former UCLA star Kevin Love tries a day at the beach
August 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Deron Williams has signed with a team in Turkey, Leandro Barbosa has agreed to play in Brazil, and Kobe Bryant is rumored to be playing everywhere but Easter Island. In a summer of NBA lockout uncertainty, Kevin Love is choosing to play somewhere different as well — a few steps south of the Manhattan Beach pier. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward will be there later this week, trying to break ground in a sunnier, sandier corner of the sports world at the Manhattan Beach Open. At 6 feet 10, he might be the tallest player in the beach volleyball tournament, but his experience is limited. He never played volleyball in high school or at UCLA, meaning the last few weeks have been his first in"
NBA, former UCLA star Kevin Love tries a day at the beach
August 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Deron Williams has signed with a team in Turkey, Leandro Barbosa has agreed to play in Brazil, and Kobe Bryant is rumored to be playing everywhere but Easter Island. In a summer of NBA lockout uncertainty, Kevin Love is choosing to play somewhere different as well — a few steps south of the Manhattan Beach pier. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward will be there later this week, trying to break ground in a sunnier, sandier corner of the sports world at the Manhattan Beach Open. At 6 feet 10, he might be the tallest player in the beach volleyball tournament, but his experience is limited. He never played volleyball in high school or at UCLA, meaning the last few weeks have been his first in"
Out-of-work NBA players back in college
August 10
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Marc J. Spears
"In recent years, Kenny Donaldson gently reminded some of UCLA's former basketball stars that he could help them return to school to finish their degrees. As UCLA's athletics assistant director of academic services, Donaldson hoped that any former Bruins who had left school early to play in the NBA would eventually find their way back to campus and work toward graduating. Thanks, in part, to the NBA lockout, Donaldson's had a handful of players take him up on his offer this summer. UCLA's American Popular Culture class now has four out-of-work NBA players – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, New Orleans Hornets forward Trevor Ariza and"
Kevin Love turning pro in beach volleyball
July 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is the latest NBA player to consider employment options during the league's lockout, though Love's plan appears to be taking him to the beach. The NBA's leading rebounder last season has agreed to play in USA Volleyball's professional beach series. Love tuned up for a major event in August with a practice round Tuesday on a man-made beach in New York City's Times Square. Love competed with pro beach players John Hyden, Sean Scott, Jess Gysin and Christal Engle. Displaying a new Mohawk hairstyle, Love uploaded pictures of himself from Tuesday's competition on his Twitter page. "I'm trying to look at it as a new endeavor," Love said of his volleyball interest"
Kevin Love turning pro in beach volleyball
July 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is the latest NBA player to consider employment options during the league's lockout, though Love's plan appears to be taking him to the beach. The NBA's leading rebounder last season has agreed to play in USA Volleyball's professional beach series. Love tuned up for a major event in August with a practice round Tuesday on a man-made beach in New York City's Times Square. Love competed with pro beach players John Hyden, Sean Scott, Jess Gysin and Christal Engle. Displaying a new Mohawk hairstyle, Love uploaded pictures of himself from Tuesday's competition on his Twitter page. "I'm trying to look at it as a new endeavor," Love said of his volleyball interest"
Kevin Love wants coach 'who can teach us how to win'
July 14
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love reportedly called Tuesday's firing of coach Kurt Rambis a "tough situation," said he expects Rambis to find another job soon and expressed hope that his relationship with Minnesota's next coach will be stronger. "You always hope for the best," Love told CBSSports.com on Tuesday night. "I want to have a great relationship with whoever coaches the Timberwolves or whoever coaches me throughout my career." Love had a breakout season last season, earning an NBA All-Star Game berth, but the Timberwolves finished 17-65, the league's worst record. They went 32-132 in two seasons under Rambis. "As far as us having a young team," Love told CBSSports.com, "we're going"