It didn’t take long for the reports on Kevin Love’s reaction to Flip Saunders being named the new head coach of the Timberwolves to surface.
Saunders was hired as the Wolves president of basketball operations last year. He is the only coach to ever lead the Wolves to the playoffs, and he has done it eight times.
That doesn’t matter to Love, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Love still plans to opt out and look elsewhere as a free agent after next season.
Love has made it clear to Wolves that he intends to opt out and become a free agent in July 2015 and ESPN sources say that has not changed
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 5, 2014
Sources briefed on situation say Flip Saunders' decision to coach Wolves will have no bearing on Kevin Love's stance on his future in 'Sota
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 5, 2014
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Wolves probably aren’t trying to convince Love to stay, but if they want to dare him to leave, they can.
If the Wolves were to have a strong season next year, and make the playoffs, they could then offer Love a max contract, worth more than any other team could pay him. Maybe, that would make it tougher for Love to take less money to leave a winning team.
But that could prove to be an uphill battle for the Wolves.
A foolish one, according to 1500 ESPN’s Judd Zulgad. He says nothing is going to change Love’s mind to opt out of his contract next year.
Zulgad says the worst thing Saunders could do is have Love on the opening night roster next November. He says it would have a negative impact on Love’s trade value – which he says is at its highest this offseason.
As for Love trade talks, NESN reports the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings have made better offers to the Wolves, than Boston.
