HoopsHype.com Rumors

There has been speculation that Kevin Love will opt-out of his contract in 2015 because the Minnesota Timberwolves forward isn't happy with the organization and how it treated him when it gave him a four-year, $62 million deal instead of the five-year, $80 million maximum designation in 2012. But Flip Saunders, the Wolves' new president of basketball operations, told 1500 ESPN on Tuesday that he has talked to Love and doesn't think there needs to be any repair between the organization and the player. "I don't think so," Saunders said. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Flip Saunders, Rick Adelman 

Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love has accepted an invitation from Flip Saunders, the new president of basketball operations, to represent the team at the NBA draft lottery May 21 in Secaucus, N.J. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Draft, Kevin Love, Flip Saunders 

The Timberwolves' relationship with Kevin Love will undoubtedly improve with the ouster of David Kahn, but how will it impact Ricky Rubio? Sources say the Rubio family is disappointed in the decision, largely because Kahn is the one who stuck his neck out and drafted Rubio knowing he couldn't come over right away and did a lot of the legwork to expedite the start of Rubio's NBA career. Maybe it blows over -- Rubio wouldn't be the first player who disagreed with a decision yet eventually put it behind him -- but it bears watching. Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, David Kahn, Kevin Love 

Did you handle the contract extension with (Kevin Love) well? A. We handled it the best way we can, and of course I handled it per instructions from the owner. Glen and I talked about it at length. I think it actually took me some time to tell Glen it was imperative he receive max money. The only issue, the only quibble came down to that last year and as I’ve said countless times, for us the danger was if you commit for five years, you’re really committed for six because of the lockout year, which he was playing. It’s an awfully long time to string a contract out with all the variables that can occur mostly due to injuries and oftentimes to big men. That was it. I think Kevin really had his heart set on a fifth year. I think his friendship with Russell Westbrook (who signed a five-year deal with OKC) made it difficult to accept, but that’s why I also prevailed upon Glen that we should relent and give him a third-year option so he felt like he was winning something too. In every compromise it’s important for both sides to walk away with something that was valuable to have. That’s what that was all about. I never had any problems offering that third year option. I thought it was the right thing to do. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, David Kahn, Kevin Love 

Kevin Love: Happy for @Jason Collins in his decision. A great teammate and friend. Thanks for helping me through my rookie season!! #classact #courage Twitter @kevinlove

Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Kevin Love, Jason Collins 

How badly do the Bulls want Love?: He has been on their radar for awhile. Like many teams, the Bulls would love to have him. He would serve as one half of a rebounding twin towers next to Joakim Noah. He can also shoot the three and would figure to work well with Noah since both can see the floor very well. Love would seemingly also fit in well to the Bulls locker room seeing that he has trained in the past with Rose and the two have always spoken highly of one another. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Kevin Love 

“You never want to have a season like this,” said Love, who suffered through two broken hands, hand surgery and, most recently, arthroscopic knee surgery to fix a knee that had started aching as he tried to work toward his return. In all, Love played in just 18 games this season, one that began with high hopes but ended with the Wolves in the draft lottery. “Who would have thought coming into this that I would have two broken hands?” Love said. “And had to have surgery and now this? The best part about it is, I’ll have a clean bill of health and I’ll be ready to go in a month.’’ Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Indeed, Love might have played his last game for Adelman. “I’ll continue to say this: We need to have him back,” Love said. “We[’d] love to have him back. I know his family comes first, but hopefully we can sit down and talk to him. This year has given us a lot of perspective, and hopefully he can see we have the making of a very good team here. We can make a push and have a special year next year. …. I think he’ll come back.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

PP: Do you want the team's medical and training staff to monitor Love's offseason workout program more closely to make sure he's healthy next season? GT: I'm not worried about Kevin. He has told me, 'I'm going to be in as good a shape and fit as I've ever been.' He has talked to our people about what he's going to do in the offseason. It sounds aggressive and stimulating. He's taking the leadership on that. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love, Glen Taylor 

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn told local writer Britt Robson a while ago that he wasn't saving his 5-year contract offer for point guard Ricky Rubio. That he would get the same opportunity as forward Kevin Love (four years, with a player option after the third year). Well, Rubio's camp has never heard a word about that. In fact, the belief is he'll get a five-year offer when eligible starting in the summer 2014. That would be after three years of service. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, David Kahn, Kevin Love 

Kevin Love did have that arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue buildup on his left knee today while he was at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery to have a plate removed from his healing right shooting hand. The team, of course, termed the surgery "successful." While he's in New York City, the Wolves continue their three-game Western trip without Dante Cunningham against the Clippers in Los Angeles. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Marc J. Spears: Wolves say F that Kevin Love likely out 4-6 weeks after having a arthroscopic left knee surgery today to remove a buildup of scar tissue. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Wolves forward Kevin Love will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee to remove a buildup of scar tissue this week and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced on Monday. Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn said he believes the procedure will take place on Wednesday in New York City, and he expects Love to be ready for full offseason workouts no later than early June. The typical timetable for this type of procedure is 4-6 weeks, according to the team. “I think disappointment will suffice for now, I can’t think of a better word,” Kahn said. “But as he put it, I’ll put it in more reader friendly words, it’s been one heck of a season. He feels very badly about it, which is understandable.” NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Kevin Love will not play again this season. But it's not because of that healing broken shooting hand necessarily. Love will have that hand re-examined in New York City at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday and while he's there, he'll consult with another surgeon who will perform arthroscopic surgery to repair scar tissue on his left knee later this week, sources said Monday evening. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

A source called the operation "minor." The knee apparently has bothered him some much of the season. The plan was to have it done at the end of the season if his hand was cleared for contact action, but it bothered him more as he ramped up workouts for his return and the decision was made to have the surgery now. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Kahn said it’s a disappointing end to what he called a “lost season” for Love, but he’s confident the Wolves’ two-time All-Star will be ready to return with full health at the start of next year. “That’s why we’re doing it now as opposed to the end of the season,” Kahn said. “So I think it’s been there for a while, and I think this should clean it up for the long haul. And I imagine his knee will be pain free and his hip will be pain free once he recovers.” NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Timberwolves two-time All-Star forward Kevin Love was not cleared on Friday for contact action and will return to New York City to be evaluated by his hand surgeon early next week. The team last week said Love would be evaluated this week. His healing right shooting hand was not scanned by Friday, but the team’s medical staff and Love’s surgeon conferred after photos of Love’s hand were forwarded to her. His return to New York City next week makes his return to play this season less likely. The Wolves begin a three-game Western trip at Golden State on Tuesday and by then only eight days and six games will remain in a season that ends April 17. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Wolves coach Rick Adelman would like to see Love play again, even if only for a handful of games. “I’ve said all along I’d like to see him come back and play,” Adelman said. “The more guys we get on the floor down the stretch here, the better evaluation we can make.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

#Twolves Injury Update: Kevin Love not cleared for contact (broken right hand). Will be re-evaluated early next week. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love 

Adelman said he would like to see Love back on the floor, even if it is for only a week or 10 days. “I’d love to see him get out there and play,” Adelman said before Friday’s 101-93 victory over Oklahoma City. “He certainly would help us. And we’d get to see guys play together who haven’t played together all year. I think it would be [enough time]: Have him on the floor and put guys together. It will effect our rotation again, but it’s a nice effect to have.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love