Kevin Love News: Pro Sports Daily

Timberwolves exercise options on Kevin Love, Corey Brewer

Comment

November 3

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves exercised contract options on guard/forward Corey Brewer and forward Kevin Love before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, keeping both players from becoming free agents after the season. For now, Brewer and Love are under contract through the 2010-11 season. The Wolves exercised the fourth-year option on Brewer and the third-year option on Love. "It's always good to have a guaranteed deal for next season; at least you know you'll have a job," Brewer said. "I want to be a Timberwolf. I feel like we're building something good here." A 2010-11 option on forward Oleksiy Pecherov's contract was not picked up. President of basketball operations David Kahn said ..."

Kahn must decide on offers for Love, Brewer, Pecherov

Comment

November 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wolves boss David Kahn must decide by today whether to offer Kevin Love, Corey Brewer and Oleksiy Pecherov contract extensions for the 2010-11 season. On Sunday, Kahn wasn't saying what he'll do. Kahn said during training camp that extending Love a $3.64 million salary for next season is a "no-brainer." At that same time, he said he "couldn't fathom" not extending Brewer -- the seventh pick in the 2007 draft -- a $3.7 million offer. If Kahn doesn't extend Brewer or Pecherov ($2.38 million), he would save $6 million and give the Wolves even more salary-cap flexibility -- with the option of signing multiple free agents, including perhaps one to a maximum contract -- for a long-awaited ..."

Injuries, leaves Timberwolves short on star power for season opener

Comment

October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Kurt Rambis was prepared for all sorts of challenges in his first year as the Timberwolves' new head coach. Piecing together a lineup was not expected to be high up on the list. With Wednesday night's regular-season debut against New Jersey at Target Center approaching, Rambis knows he won't have forward Kevin Love, who is out for at least two months with a broken bone in his left hand. But Rambis remains unsure about forward Al Jefferson's availability, and starting point guard Jonny Flynn missed Monday's practice with flu symptoms. If Flynn can't practice today, and Jefferson continues to be slowed by Achilles tendinitis, three projected starters could be out of the lineup for a team ..."

Timberwolves' Love to undergo surgery for broken hand

Comment

October 20

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"If Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis was considering using power forwards Kevin Love and Al Jefferson as a regular tandem in the lineup, the plan has been put on hold. Love will undergo surgery today in New York to repair a broken bone in his left hand, an injury that is expected to sideline him for at least six weeks. Love broke the fourth metacarpal bone on a rebound attempt in the third quarter of Friday night's exhibition game at Chicago. "It's a blow to our team, but it's the nature of the business," Rambis said Monday after learning of Love's scheduled surgery. "Players get hurt. When somebody goes down, it's an opportunity for else." Love's surgery will be performed by Dr. Andrew ..."

Wolves' injury situation worsens

Comment

October 20

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Eight days before the Timberwolves kick off their 21st season at home against New Jersey, Minnesota tonight will play a preseason game in Denver with its two biggest pieces facing uncertain futures -- short and long term -- because of injuries. As expected, forward Kevin Love will undergo surgery today to repair the fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand. He suffered the injury last weekend in Chicago and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. But in a surprising development Monday, Al Jefferson did not practice because of a sore Achilles' tendon that caused him to play less than six minutes in the second half Saturday at Milwaukee. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis, growing tired of ..."

Rambis sees Love's bad break as others' chance

Comment

October 18

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Depending upon your view of the world, Timberwolves forward Kevin Love's fractured left hand either is a shimmering opportunity for his teammates or simply a tempting occasion to rationalize truly a bad break as such. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis knows how he'd vote. "Absolutely, it's opportunity," he said. "My entire career was based on Mitch Kupchak blowing his knee out, so why wouldn't I think that?" Rambis was a rookie forward from tiny Santa Clara University the season the NBA expanded its rosters from 11 men to 12 in 1981. That bit of serendipitous timing probably provided him a job with the Los Angeles Lakers that fall. Kupchak's serious knee injury early that season presented Rambis a ..."

Timberwolves lose Love to broken hand in loss at Chicago

Comment

October 17

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Kevin Love went up for a rebound as he always does, but this time he banged his left hand. Now, the Minnesota Timberwolves' second-year forward will be watching from the bench for a while. Love broke a bone in his hand and the NBA's leading rookie rebounder last season hopes to return in late November or early December. "Fortunately, it's my non-shooting hand," Love said after Minnesota's 94-90 preseason loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. That's about the only thing that went right for the Timberwolves. Tyrus Thomas, who missed four games with a bruised right hip, had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, and Jannero Pargo hit the go-ahead jumper in the final minute. Chicago led ..."

Wolves' Love breaks hand

Comment

October 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Kevin Love rose for an insignificant rebound in an insignificant preseason game Friday night at United Center and came down with a fractured left hand that's expected to sideline him until December. X-rays taken at the arena showed he broke the fourth metacarpal bone in that hand and the initial estimate is he will miss the next six to eight weeks. Love will see a hand specialist Monday to find out if the injury will require surgery. "Freak accident," he said as he sat at his locker stall following a 94-90 loss to the Chicago Bulls, his left hand heavily bandaged. Love went up to grab the rebound of Bulls center Brad Miller's missed free throw with 3:50 left in the third quarter. His right ..."

Extension decisions nearing deadline for Brewer, Love

Comment

October 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Timberwolves will use October to consider options for a third point guard. They also by month's end must make contract-extension decisions on youngsters Kevin Love, Corey Brewer and Oleksiy Pecherov. Extending Love a $3.6 million qualifying offer by the Oct. 31 deadline is what Wolves boss David Kahn calls a "no-brainer," but Pecherov is an unlikely keep. On Thursday, Kahn said he "can't fathom" not guaranteeing Brewer -- the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft -- a $3.7 million contract for the 2010-11 season. "I think I need to visit with the coaches and we need to watch Corey play this year," Kahn said. "It'd be hard for me to fathom as we speak today that we don't pick up Corey ..."

Love's tweet hiatus is temporary

Comment

October 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Kevin Love's tweeter is broken, but he promises a glorious comeback. Love, a child of the computer age, embraced the Twitter social-network phenomenon as enthusiastically as any pro athlete, so much so he unintentionally broke the worldwide news that Kevin McHale wasn't coming back as Timberwolves coach and honestly offered up his comments on the team's confounding draft night. He hasn't tweeted since Aug. 14. For now, rookie Jonny Flynn is leading the Wolves, both at point guard and with the Twitter. "I got shut down a little while from the Boss Man," Love said. "But be on the lookout: I'll be back. I just got tired of (Jim) Stack or (Fred) Hoiberg calling me and telling me not to tweet ..."

Kevin Love's view: Lakers unbeatable if Kobe keeps this up

Comment

June 6

Los Angeles Times

"I don't think the Lakers can be beat any time Kobe Bryant plays the way he did. Not with all the other stars on that team. Pau Gasol was the second-leading scorer, Andrew Bynum played pretty well and, what, Dwight Howard made only one field goal. I don't think the Lakers could have been beaten in Game 1. It's tough, really, for Orlando because the Magic can only hope to contain a guy like Kobe, and offensively I think they need to get other guys to cut more off Howard. I think Rafer Alston said that, that they can't stand around and watch Dwight. With the double teams and stuff, three-pointers aren't going to be open unless they all start moving. Breaking down the Lakers' defense, I ..."

Wolves' Love named to All-Rookie second team

Comment

May 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Kevin Love of the Timberwolves was snubbed for the rookie-sophomore game at All Star Weekend. On Wednesday, in spite of a rookie-leading 29 double-doubles, he was left off the NBA's All-Rookie first team. Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose led the first team, which also included Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Brook Lopez and Russell Westbrook. Love, Eric Gordon, Mario Chalmers, Marc Gasol and D.J. Augustin made second team in voting done by the league's 30 head coaches."

Kevin Love leads Timberwolves to back-to-back road sweep

Comment

April 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves knew their legs were going to be put to the test facing the fast-paced Golden State Warriors on the second part of a back-to-back West Coast road trip Wednesday night at Oracle Arena. With only three more games remaining this season, the Timberwolves will have plenty of time to get some rest in a couple of weeks, but they proved they have enough in the tank for here and now with a 105-97 victory. In a game that featured a Warriors team that has flourished at home (21-17 record coming in) and a Wolves team with the second-best road record in the Western Conference by a non-playoff-bound team at 12-27, something had to give. Though they didn't guard each other often, the ..."

Kevin Love sits out for first time this season

Comment

April 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Already short-handed, the Timberwolves had to make do without rookie forward Kevin Love for Sunday night's game against the Denver Nuggets. Battling the flu, Love wasn't even in uniform and never got a chance to lobby to play. "I didn't talk to Kevin Love," coach Kevin McHale said after the Wolves' 110-87 loss. "He was in there getting an IV. He was very sick. He was in the back room. I told him finally to go home." It was the first missed game of the season for Love, who McHale said became ill before Friday night's game at Utah. "He's been throwing up and pretty sick," McHale said. "Starting the afternoon of the Utah game, he was real sickly. What's the old Procol Harum song? He was a ..."

Rookie Kevin Love one of the few Minnesota Timberwolves not breaking down

Comment

April 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"For all the benefits of experience, youth does have its advantages. Take Kevin Love. At a time of the season when many of his veteran teammates are limping around with injuries, the Timberwolves' rookie forward appears to be getting stronger. Love's 23 points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday night's loss to Dallas gave him double-doubles in back-to-back games and five of the past nine. One of just two Wolves players, with forward Ryan Gomes, to have played in all 75 games this season, Love said he actually feels pretty fresh. "I was feeling good in warm-ups tonight," he said Tuesday. "I got a good warm-up in, got a little bit hot and just came out and hit my first jump shot. I feel great." With ..."

Confident Kevin Love wants to hone skills

Comment

March 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"From the firing of coach Randy Wittman in early December to Al Jefferson's season-ending knee injury two months later to more losses than he suffered in high school and college combined, Kevin Love has been through a lot during his first NBA season. Looking back, the Timberwolves' rookie forward said it has been a learning experience. "It's just different," he said. "Everything's been an adjustment, whether it's on the court or off the court. I just feel like it's gotten better and better. Not as far as winning, but if we're talking about how I feel out there and confidence, I feel a lot better." Looking ahead, Love said his first priority is to make the most of the 10 games remaining. ..."

Kevin McHale really likes Kevin Love Phil McCarten / Associated Press Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love battles the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and Al Thornton for a rebound during Monday's game.

Comment

January 21

Los Angeles Times

"Kevin McHale sees the rebounding ability, the basketball instincts and the unceasing effort and can't believe Kevin Love is only a rookie. "He's so far advanced for a 20-year-old it's ridiculous," the Minnesota Timberwolves coach said of Love, the former UCLA center who is in the midst of his best month in the NBA. Love, an NBA forward listed at 6 feet 10, is averaging 11.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in January following Minnesota's 94-86 victory Monday over the Clippers at Staples Center. Though Love couldn't match those numbers against the Clippers -- he had six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes -- he showed flashes of why he's becoming one of Minnesota's top reserves. There was a ..."

Grizzlies can afford to be gracious after deal that won Mayo over Love

Comment

January 6

Memphis Commercial Appeal

columnist Geoff Calkins

"It was still in the first half of the Grizzlies' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week when O.J. Mayo rose to throw down an emphatic reverse dunk. "Oh, yeah," called a fan from the stands at the Target Center in Minneapolis. "We didn't need that here, did we?" It was the sound of pain, ladies and gentlemen. The sound of woe-is-us. And -- here's the really wonderful part -- it was coming from the other guys for a change. The other guys were fretting about the one that got away. The other guys were wondering what could have been. "If only O. J. Mayo had ended up in Minnesota ... " Instead, he ended up here. "Fortune smiled on us," said Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace. "We ..."

Love looking for lost confidence

Comment

December 22

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves forward Kevin Love played seven minutes Saturday -- his previous low was 15 -- and watched the entire second half of a home loss to Houston because Wolves coach Kevin McHale said he needed veteran Mark Madsen's energy and because Love might benefit from a new perspective. Love is 26 games into an uneven rookie season in which he has struggled to get off his shot around the basket. That was the biggest question about the former UCLA star, who measured less than 6-8 in his bare feet before last summer's draft. On Saturday, Love deftly faked his defender into the air early in the second quarter, drove the baseline and maneuvered under the basket for a reverse layup ... that was ..."

Love holding his own so far

Comment

November 12

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"From Day 1, the Timberwolves said the Kevin Love trade wasn't about the numbers. Acquired from Memphis in a draft-night deal along with veteran Mike Miller, Love was expected to help Minnesota in subtle ways that went beyond the stat sheet. That could be a tougher sell, though, if the player the Wolves traded away continues his torrid early-season pace. Former Southern California guard O.J. Mayo scored a career-high 33 points in the Grizzlies' 107-102 loss at Phoenix on Monday, topping the 31 points he had at Denver a night earlier. That lifted his season averages to 21.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 39 1/2 minutes per game, compared with 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 25-plus minutes for ..."

Kevin Love scores two points in homecoming, Timberwolves lose at Portland

Comment

November 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Maybe Randy Wittman should get mad more often. One night after the Timberwolves coach angrily questioned his players' commitment to defense, they were a different team for nearly 47 1/2 minutes. The final 31.9 seconds belonged to the Portland Trail Blazers, who got a 12-foot jumper from Brandon Roy and then two free throws from Travis Outlaw with 4.6 seconds left to hand the Wolves their fifth straight loss, 97-93, at the Rose Garden. Al Jefferson scored 27 points to lead the Wolves, who played much better than they did the night before in a 121-109 loss at Sacramento, but he missed two short shots in the final 16 seconds. Rookie forward Kevin Love also missed a shot in the final seconds ..."

No need to for Love to prove his intensity

Comment

October 28

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love sat slumped at his new corner-locker stall last week after what he called the worst game he can remember playing. With both knees wrapped in ice bags, he looked so forlorn, you almost wanted to give the sweaty guy a big hug. "Either that," Love said later, "or you should have slapped me." Cameras televising the first preseason broadcast in the franchise's 20-year history captured a priceless moment when Love, in the midst of a 1-for-10 shooting night, came to the bench, buried his head in a towel in utter frustration and looked like he was -- against Chicago, in October! -- on the verge of an emotional meltdown. Teammate Rashad McCants, seated next to him, ..."

Lots of Love for the game

Comment

October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"To say Kevin Love was born to play basketball isn't entirely true. The Timberwolves' rookie forward springs from a family tree known as much for its accomplishments in music as in sports, but basketball always has been in his blood. "Kevin has actually had a ball in his hands since he was in his walker, those little baby walker things," said his father, Stan Love. "He just fell in love with sports. You know, he was a terrific baseball player, and he just learned to love basketball." Kevin got that from his father, a star forward at Oregon University who had a four-year NBA career with the Baltimore Bullets and Los Angeles Lakers from 1971-75. Those are solid credentials, but Kevin has an ..."

Love says he doesn't know whether he'll be a starter

Comment

October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Kevin Love said he hasn't been told what his role will be for Wednesday night's season opener against Sacramento, but the Timberwolves rookie forward suspects he'll be coming off the bench, for starters. "I don't know if I'll start," Love said after Sunday's practice. "We've got some veteran guys, but also I've got to work my way into that position. We've got some good players, but hopefully I'll get 20- or 25-plus minutes and we'll see where it goes from there." Love started just one game at power forward during an uneven exhibition season, and averaged 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in a little more than 21 minutes a game. That included a 1-for-10 shooting night in his Target Center debut ..."

New Timberwolves Mike Miller, Kevin Love ready for first game at Target Center

Comment

October 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"NBA teams don't start playing for keeps until next week, but for two members of the Timberwolves, tonight's game still qualifies as a special occasion. Exhibition or not, the 7 p.m. game against the Chicago Bulls is the first for rookie forward Kevin Love and veteran guard/forward Mike Miller in their new Target Center home, and both are looking forward to it. "It's always fun to play in front of the home fans for the first time," Miller said Tuesday. "It will be exciting to see. Hopefully, we'll come out and put on a good show for them." Miller, who was acquired from Memphis in the same draft-night trade that brought Love to Minnesota, has fond memories of Target Center, and not just ..."

Heavier Love survives first pro practices

Comment

October 1

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love aimed low on his first day at work in the NBA on Tuesday, and he flawlessly achieved his objective. He survived two practices without throwing up in a garbage can once. "At least I didn't see it," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "But he's over by that waste basket over there." Love said he already has interviewed three or four chefs to prepare his meals. He prepared for the NBA draft in June by losing 15 pounds by extensive exercise and changing his diet to include custom-made, packaged meals and appears to have gained some of that back over the summer. NBA scouts questioned his weight during his only season at UCLA. "I've got to keep it healthy: ..."