Bob CollinsThis one is going out to Kevin Love and Flip Saunders.
Our collective self esteem is going to take a hit this summer. We hate being rejected but Timberwolves star Kevin Love apparently is going to make sure his exit from Minnesota hurts good.
The rumors that Love has already told the NBA team’s bosses that he wants out appear more than accurate, what with his not-cleverly-disguised message from his recent “vacation” in Boston. But his TV appearances on national sports broadcasts, where he also thinly disguised his distaste for the Wolves, suggest the Timberwolves’ answer — at least for now — has been “no.”
The Timberwolves own the forward for one more season but Love is still in a position to lessen the assets a trade could bring the Timberwolves in a trade, preferably before the NBA rookie draft later this month. It’s a destructive strategy, but sports stars are not above destructive strategies in search of getting their way. Plus, the Love family DNA is loaded with messy splits.
He appeared on ESPN yesterday where he cranked up the heat with “agent speak.”
“My agent is handling everything at this point … I’m hoping that everything works out for all parties involved,” Love said during an appearance on ESPN’s “SportsNation.”
Over to you, Timberwolves president, part-owner, and coach Flip Saunders:
“Why does any player have a right to be frustrated?” Saunders told KFAN radio on Friday. “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. Should the team be frustrated? Yeah, the team can be frustrated. But I don’t think any one individual should be frustrated.”
Then Love went on FoxSports — from a computer game convention.
“I don’t really have a wish list, I just want to win, wherever that may be,” Love said. “One of the 30 teams; (I) want to play for a great coach, great teammates … it’s not about just one player. It’s not about myself, it’s about a whole team.”
Cough.
In the interview, he referred to the Timberwolves as “they.”
