Flip Saunders: Timberwolves fans won't forgive Kevin Love for asking to be traded http://t.co/wilSgvfxNP pic.twitter.com/TTSKm7fF6J
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 22, 2014
The first shot was fired long ago, but on Monday Timberwolves coach and president Flip Saunders took the most recent jab at former Timberwolves forward Kevin Love.
During an interview on the eve of the game that will see Love and the Wolves square off for the first time, Saunders told the Associated Press’s John Krawczynski that he doesn’t think Minnesotans will soon forgive Kevin Love.
Asked Flip if he thinks fans will forgive Love: "no. Minnesota people are pretty loyal. When you turn on MN they don't forgive you."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 22, 2014
The Wolves traded love to the Cavaliers prior to the start of the season in a three-team deal that brought Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young to Minnesota.
Sports Illustrated notes that Love is the Wolves’ all-time rebounds per game leader, averaging 12.2 a contest during his six seasons in Minnesota.
Saunders wasn’t overly anxious to part with his team’s former superstar.
Flip also said if the Cleveland deal hadn't been done, Love would still be here. Nothing else on the table at that point that they liked
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 22, 2014
But Yahoo’s Kelly Dwyer looks at the situation a little differently. He notes that after years of draft blunders and poor coaching decisions, it was the Wolves who offered Love a three-year contract with a player option for a fourth season instead of the five-year guaranteed contract superstars normally get.
The Timberwolves will meet up with Love and the Cavaliers Tuesday night, in Cleveland. His return trip to Minnesota won’t come until Jan. 31.
