HoopsHype.com Rumors

It is not a popularity contest. It is not a vote on who is the “best” player. It is not a reward for your team having the best record. It is about value to your team, and that is always the determining factor when I cast my annual postseason awards vote. “Oh, I totally agree with that,” coach Rick Adelman told SheridanHoops on the Wolves’ team plane after their 86-84 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday night. “And that’s your argument: Kevin has an unbelievable impact on our team. He’s scoring, he’s rebounding, and more attention is coming his way. This two-game suspension is kind of telling him where you’re at — everybody’s coming at you. And with the best players, that’s what happens. “It (the MVP award) could be the player who puts up the numbers, but I think it’s the guy who has the biggest impact on your team and whether they can win. We’re competitive, and we’re trying to reach another level,” Adelman said. SheridanHoops

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

Reigning Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio, who ranks third overall in assists, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge to be held on Friday, Feb. 24, in Orlando during NBA All-Star 2012. Joining Griffin from the Sophomore class are: DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers), and John Wall (Washington Wizards). NBA.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, Kyrie Irving 

Multiple sources say Smith is looking for the opportunity to showcase his talents and while the Knicks certainly need help at guard, J.R. has already had a stint with Carmelo Anthony. That may not be as appealing to Smith as some might think. A more appealing option might be the Minnesota Timberwolves who have their $2.5 million, are suddenly a .500 team and have a true need at the two long-term. Coach Rick Adelman has a tremendous reputation for bringing out the best in players who have had difficulty adjusting to the NBA (Metta World Peace nee Ron Artest). HoopsWorld

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, JR Smith, China 

Love said the suspension, the first in his four-year NBA career, is "warranted," though he was not called for a foul on the play. After reviewing the incident, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson assessed Love with a Flagrant Foul Two and issued the suspension. "It definitely won't happen again," Love said after Monday's practice. "I feel like it was a learning experience. There were no ill intentions with that step. I should have tried to step over him or fallen down with him. I don't want to be known for that. I want to be known as a stand-up guy who happened to make a mistake with his size-19 shoe." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love apologized to Scola after Saturday's game and said the two talked for "15 to 20 minutes." Love also issued a public apology to Scola and the Houston organization in a statement released through the Wolves' media relations department. "I know Luis is OK with it," Love said. "We're good. I know what type of person I am. These things happen to all sorts of players around the league. I just need to have a short- term memory and move on." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Wolves coach Rick Adelman was asked if the two-game suspension is fair. "What do you want me to say?" Adelman said. "They do what they do and that's it. There's nothing you can do about it. Do I think it's fair? No, absolutely [not]. I don't know the reasoning. They don't tell you the reasoning. I don't know the reasoning why two games. They haven't said anything. You've just got to move on." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

Kevin Love talked about his two-game suspension after practice today. He said the NBA suspension is “warranted” and said he apologized to Scola after the game and then talked to him another 15 to 20 minutes again later than night. Here is some of what he said: “I feel like it was a learning experience for me and it definitely won’t happen again. But there were no ill intentions in that step. I wasn’t trying to stomp on him like people said or anything… “I don’t want to be known for that. I want to be known as a standup guy that happened to make a mistake with his size 19 shoe and just move on.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Asked if he thought the incident damages his reputation, he said, “No, if it does from the common fan’s standpoint, I’ll just have to win their respect back and make them like me again. I have no problem doing that. I know the type of person I am and I feel like you guys (reporters) and people who know me know the type of person I am. I don’t think it will affect my reputation.” The Wolves now will play Tuesday against Sacramento and Wednesday at Memphis without him after having just reached a .500 record with consecutive victories. “That’s it more than anything,” Love said. “We’ve got to get past these next two games. We’ve just got to take it one game at a time. I’m going to stay in shape. I’ll be ready to go when the time comes and I’ll have some rest. I just wish I could be here to cheer them on for both games, but that’s not going to be the case.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

He also released an apology through the Wolves that read like this: "I want to publicly apologize to Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets. My intention is to never hurt another player on the basketball court. I've always had the utmost respect for the game of basketball and all of my opponents. I also apologize to my coaches, teammates and our fans for the consequences of my actions." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended two games without pay for driving his foot into the upper body and face of the Houston Rockets’ Luis Scola as Scola was lying on the floor, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations. HoopsWorld

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Jerry Zgoda: Wolves officially send Malcolm Lee to Sioux Falls in D League. South Dakota, not Iowa, for those keeping score at home... Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, D-League, Malcolm Lee 

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been suspended two games for stomping on Rockets forward Luis Scola's face in their game on Saturday. The NBA announced the suspension on Monday. The incident occurred when Scola fell to the court during the third quarter. As Love headed back to the other end, he stepped on Scola's face and upper body. Love said after the game that the stomp was not intentional and he went to the Rockets' locker room to apologize to Scola. SI.com

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Rubio meets with the media before nearly every road game -- a one-shot deal to satisfy so many requests for his time -- and patiently answers mostly the same questions over and over again, including the one about his suspect shooting. "I don't want to show anybody nothing," he said Friday in New Jersey. "I know what I can do. What I'm able to do and I'm working hard to do it. People can talk about my shooting. I know I have to improve a lot, but it's in my mind. I don't need to show, to prove anybody." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Malcolm Lee: Just got done grinding. Dumb hungry. What is there to eat in Sioux Falls Iowa? Its like a population of 30 out here Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, D-League, Malcolm Lee 

The incident began with the Rockets holding possession of the ball, trailing the Timberwolves leading, 64-52, with a little less than nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Scola was working on Love with his back to the basket in the post. Scola fell to the ground in the paint after Love swiped down hard on the ball to force a turnover and Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio collected the ball and passed ahead to start a fast break the other direction. Love then moved to join the play as Scola lay on his back in the paint, in between Love and the upcourt action. Love seemed at first to attempt to step over Scola but his left foot wound up coming down with full force on Scola's face. Replays seemed to indicate that Love was looking down at Scola prior to stepping his foot down. CBSSports.com

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

The big question afterward was: Was it intentional? And, will it be something NBA head of discipline Stu Jackson takes a look at? "He was kind of right there," Love said. "I have size-19 feet. He just happened to be there. I had nowhere to go. I kind of tripped up. I just had nowhere to step. It was a heat-of-the-moment type play. He was there and it happened to be his face." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love said he and Scola have a good relationship, and was sure Scola didn't take it personally. "And obviously it was nothing personal against their team," Love said. "... Nothing personal, just heat of the moment." Should Love be suspended? "I just don't care about the play, the game is over," said Scola, who added that he didn't know if the step was intentional or not. "I was just really surprised. ... I'm talking about the play. I think he wanted to foul me, and I don't know why the ref didn't call it." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love, who apologized to Scola after the game, not surprisingly said he didn't think the play merited a further action. "It was one of those plays," Love said. "You look at it, and you might think otherwise." On Monday night, Scola saved a ball from going out of bounds when he threw it off Love's groin. Said Love: "It happened to be his face, just like Houston, where it happened to be my groin." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

MM: You and Ricky Rubio speak the same language. Tell us about your relationship? JJ Barea: “It’s great, he’s a great teammate and a great person to be around. He works hard and we can talk Spanish to each other without anybody knowing. If we have to say somebody is crazy or something, we’ll do it in Spanish,” Barea said. CBS Minnesota

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Jose Juan Barea 

MM: How about everybody that wants to know your girlfriend is Miss Universe? JJ Barea: “Oh she’s doing awesome. We’re expecting a little boy here soon, we’ve got a couple weeks and she’s been doing awesome. She’s here in Minnesota. She’s from Puerto Rico so we were in the same place, we were both single at the same time and I sent her a text and we kept it moving,” Barea said. MM: We’ve all got dreams but you play in the NBA and your girlfriend is Miss Universe. That’s pretty good. “Oh it’s pretty good, I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying my life every day, it’s just a dream come true,” Barea said. CBS Minnesota

Minnesota Timberwolves, Puerto Rico, Jose Juan Barea