HoopsHype.com Rumors

Kevin Love did not get clearance for contact play during a visit to his New York City surgeon and will be re-evaluated in another two to three weeks. His visit with Dr. Michelle Carlson of the Hospital of Special Surgery determined his right shooting hand is "healing properly," according to a team release, and he will continue to increase his conditioning program while he waits to be evaluated again. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Joan Nielsen: I'm a bit surprised by the Love news. Last week he made it sound like this visit was likely final clearance. Doesn't appear to be. Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has a meeting scheduled in New York on Wednesday, March 13, to meet with the doctor that performed the Jan. 15 surgery on his right hand. Love said the meeting with Dr. Michelle Carson could determine when he might be able to return to the lineup. "We'll pick a game or two that's right for me to come back," Love said before the Wolves' game Wednesday night, March 6, against the Washington Wizards at Target Center. "Until I see what the doctor says, I don't know." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Do you want Pekovic to re-sign? Has he talked to you at all about it? Kevin Love: Oh yeah. Pek is a guy … I don’t want to say he’s a recluse or a shut-in, but he's the type of guy who, when he has something and he likes it, he kind of sticks with it. He likes being around this team, and he's familiar with us. Grantland

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Kevin Love 

So, how’s your hand? Kevin Love: The hand is feeling better. I’m going to see my doctor here in a couple of weeks, and go from there. All I can do is keep myself in shape and integrate myself with the team in practice. Grantland

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Why even come back so late in the season? Does it matter, though, to get at least 10 or 15 games with the Ricky Rubio–Andrei Kirilenko–Nikola Pekovic core before those last two potentially become free agents? I think it definitely matters for us, heading into the future. It matters to have all of us out there at the same time and relatively healthy. Ricky Rubio is still getting back to being himself. For me, it's gonna take me a while to get into my rhythm. But sooner rather than later, hopefully I can be myself and really help. Grantland

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Joan Nielsen: God love Adelman. When asked if there was a point when he gained more trust in Derrick, he said: "Well, Kevin Love's broken his hand twice." Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Derrick Williams 

Love said he plans to meet with doctors for another examination on his surgically repaired hand toward the end of the first week in March or the beginning of the second week. He's hoping to return with 15-20 games remaining in the season to try and put a positive end to a most disappointing year. Love first broke his hand in the preseason, didn't have surgery and returned about 10 days ahead of schedule. He broke it again in January and this time needed surgery to fix it. He said the injury is feeling much better this time around, but he has yet to begin basketball-related activities. "After surgery, it feels just different. Better," Love said. "It feels like my hand again." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

While he is waiting to return to the court, he'll soak up moments like the one he shared with little April to try and remember that things could be so much worse. "When you see a family getting taken care of and what they have to go through, I mentioned perspective," Love said. "It's really great to see what St. Jude's done. It's really great to see." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Wolves forward Kevin Love said he is still pointed towards a return that would allow him to play in “15 to 20 games’’ this season. If that is the case, that would mean a mid- to late-March return. He is going to have a checkup with the surgeon either late in the first week of March or early in the second week. Love fractured the third metacarpal in his right hand Jan. 3 at Denver. It was the second time he had sustained such a break, the first coming during the preseason when he broke two bones doing knuckle pushups at his home. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

As for his return? He doesn’t have a specific date yet. He’ll know more after he sees the doctor. But he did say it was very important for him to play as much as he can this season, both for himself at the team. Both Love and forward Chase Budinger, who is coming back from knee surgery, are expected back in March. “It’s very important,” he said of playing this season. “Just to get back with the full team, Chase included. Having a full roster, that’s the biggest thing for us.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

"I think Kevin and I are on the same page -- we've been on the same page -- so that's fine," Taylor said. "We're talking about going ahead. He wants to know how we're going to do next year, what we're going to do." First, though, Taylor said, the Wolves (19-31 at the all-star break) have to get through this season. "And see how it goes," he said. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Glen Taylor 

Taylor told Love that it's important for the owner to find out, "at some point in time," if he can play toward the end of the season. "Because that will give us some information," he said. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Glen Taylor 

What has followed has been a monumentally frustrating season filled with injuries and public relations hits, stinging criticism from some once-adoring Timberwolves fans and another loss-filled season for a franchise that just can't seem to catch a break. "I think there's a lesson to be learned with everything," Love said on Thursday in his first day back at practice since having surgery on Jan. 15. "I think this has been a season that has put a lot into perspective, and whether it's directly or indirectly, just being in touch with a guy like Derrick Rose, talking to him and knowing what he's gone through, it's just tough. "It's obviously two different injuries, but it really sets the groundwork for how hard I'm going to work this summer, the team included. But eventually we're going to hit a string where everybody's going to be healthy." Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

"I just think that they need to realize that I love being here," Love said. "I don't know where the misconception came along, but I love this team. I love this organization, and somewhere along the line it went the other way. I think that wholeheartedly they need to realize that I do want to be here." Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love 

His comments were genuine, although at least somewhat in spite of the facts. Love knows where that "misconception" came from. He knows what he said in December about the team and his perception that it had been poorly managed. He knows his words might have been taken out of context – Love never explicitly said he wanted out or disliked this season's team – but he had to expect that. He'll need to craft together a healthy PR campaign as he eases back in with his team, and he knows why. "All I can do is, you know, be happy with and only manage things that I can control, and with that continue to be humble," Love said. "In some cases, just shut my mouth and continue to go out there and work. I think the same applies for everybody on the team, and you know, everybody involved with the organization." Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

"Surgery is making me be patient, making me heal, rather than trying to get out there the first time the doctor says, ‘Okay, maybe you can (get) out there and play,' " Love said. "So I think in that regard it's a good thing. … I definitely want to heal and do things the right way this time around." Fox Sports North

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Love also reiterated that he’s happy to be in Minnesota, and wants fans to know that. “I think they just need to realize I love being here,” he said. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love 

Love said the season has been frustrating, given his high expectations coming off the Olympics and the team’s high hopes entering the season. When asked what there was left in the season to salvage, here’s what he said: “I think coach (Rick Adelman) mentioned it today,” he said. “That we can’t look at making the playoffs right now. We can just look at our next game and our next practice and what we can do to get better every single day. Even though myself, and Chase (Budinger) and Brandon (Roy) and (Andrei Kirilenko) are out right now, we can still look at getting back on the court and getting better.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

He still hopes to return in mid to late March. But he’s not going to rush himself. Love was asked, again, if he came back too soon from his broken hand the first time. And while he said no, he at least suggested that maybe the breaks didn’t heal properly the first time. “Because, at the time I broke it, I was 10 weeks out (from the initial fractures),” Love said. “So I gave it enough time to heal. … But now that it’s fixed it feels great, and I can continue to progress.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love