Built Ford Tough Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 The Minnesota Timberwolves and star forward Kevin Love at last have reached terms on a contract extension, according to sources close to the situation, beating Wednesday's midnight ET deadline. To do so, Minnesota had to grant Love a player option in the final year of a four-year deal worth in excess of $60 million, sources said. The deal will be signed Wednesday afternoon, after the Timberwolves complete their shootaround in Dallas, a source said. The teams play Wednesday night. Love said the contract would be signed by tipoff, The Associated Press reported. "I like the direction the team is headed," Love said. "I like the youth. I like the pieces, like we're knocking at the door and we're close in a lot of games." A post on Love's verified Twitter page hinted that the deal was all but complete: "To #twolves fans: I'll be in Minnesota for 4 more years! Excited to see you when I get back to Minneapolis." Sources close to the process told ESPN.com that Love was determined to have the ability to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons if he didn't like the direction of the team. Love is eligible for the same five-year, $80 million extension that the Oklahoma City Thunder awarded guard Russell Westbrook last week. But the Wolves, sources said, refused all month to budge on their offer and give Love a fifth year, which would have made him Minnesota's "designated player." Based on the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, every team is allowed to have one "designated player" who receives a five-year maximum extension on his rookie contract. Because of the team's stance, Love and agent Jeff Schwartz insisted that the final year of a four-year deal would be at the All-Star forward's option. That means Love will have the right to become an unrestricted free agent in summer 2015 if the Timberwolves, who haven't made the playoffs since 2003-04 and are last in the Northwest Division, don't become a consistent winner. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7502324/kevin-love-minnesota-timberwolves-reach-four-year-deal-opt-sources-say So he can opt out after the 3rd season and become an unrestricted free agent and it is all because the Wolves didn't want to designate him as the player who gets the 5 year deal? I'm guessing they want to save that for Rubio or something, but I don't see why they wouldn't have given him the 5 year deal considering how important he is to that team. It doesn't sound like Love it all that thrilled about not getting that 5 year contract, either. Of course, who knows if Bucher is actually accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Stupid for them not to give him the 5yr max, I understand Kahn wanting to hold out and give it to Rubio, but you basically insulted the best PF in the game.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Swish* Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Too bad they don't offer him a bigger contract for more years but it's still a good move.. they're keeping the best PF in the league right now and since Rubio is in town, this makes a lot more sense to me. This team has an amazing future and they're VERY exciting to watch this year compared to the last ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 15 mil a year to keep the best PF in the league on your squad, good move by the Wolves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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