Kevin Love's State of Love address

[C.lupus]

Perhaps that's why Love was looking ahead to the offseason -- which could include a work stoppage -- rather than the handful of remaining games. Here's what he had to say on a few issues:

• On what the team needs to improve: "We need to get older. We need to draft well. You never know what's going to happen with a lockout, but we need to sign some veteran guys who have been there, done that. I've said that all season long, and I'll say that in my exit interview with [coach] Kurt Rambis and [president of basketball operations] David Kahn."

Love said he wanted to see roster improvement, but not another complete roster overhaul, saying he thought there was a nucleus here to build upon.

• On whether the point guard situation needed improvement: "Yeah. Luckily, in college basketball and around the league, the guards are very good. Jonny [Flynn] will only get better. Luke [Ridnour] will still be here. But maybe we'll add another guy or two, a bigger point guard, and see where we go from there."

Clearly, getting Ricky Rubio to come to the NBA from Spain would accomplish that. Love praised Rubio's pass-first game, said he talked with Rubio at the World Championships last summer and has kept in contact since.

• On whether Rubio's addition -- or if he decided to stay in Europe -- would influence Love's long-term intention to stay in Minnesota (his contract expires after next season):

''It would definitely be a factor,'' Love said. ''There is so much hype surrounding him, worst-case scenario is he'll attract a ton of fans. That would bring a lot of hype surrounding the team and would make us want to get better. I do believe he'd help the team."

• On if he wants to stay in Minnesota long-term: "If it all works out and it's all right, I think I definitely could. I enjoy the city, I like the people here, I like the organization. I like a lot of things about it besides the cold winter. ... I could definitely see myself here."

But Love also said he would be sure to gauge interest elsewhere before making a decision. Under current rules, the Wolves would have the right to match if Love signed an offer sheet with another team in 2012.

"You have to weigh your options," he said. "If there is a better opportunity out there, you have to look at your situation and see what's going to be best for me. ... But also, sometimes you have to go with your heart. When you break it down like that, it really could go either way. But if everything works out right here, I'll probably be here."

• On Rambis' future: Love said he supported Rambis, but agreed with teammate Anthony Tolliver, who recently said he wasn't sure all the players had bought into Rambis' system.

"I think Anthony is right in saying that," Love said. "If Kurt is going to be here, we all have to buy into his system and that will help us tremendously as an organization."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/119224224.html

Thought that last one was interesting.

[Foye]

Perhaps that's why Love was looking ahead to the offseason -- which could include a work stoppage -- rather than the handful of remaining games. Here's what he had to say on a few issues:

• On what the team needs to improve: "We need to get older. We need to draft well. You never know what's going to happen with a lockout, but we need to sign some veteran guys who have been there, done that. I've said that all season long, and I'll say that in my exit interview with [coach] Kurt Rambis and [president of basketball operations] David Kahn."

Love said he wanted to see roster improvement, but not another complete roster overhaul, saying he thought there was a nucleus here to build upon.

• On whether the point guard situation needed improvement: "Yeah. Luckily, in college basketball and around the league, the guards are very good. Jonny [Flynn] will only get better. Luke [Ridnour] will still be here. But maybe we'll add another guy or two, a bigger point guard, and see where we go from there."

Clearly, getting Ricky Rubio to come to the NBA from Spain would accomplish that. Love praised Rubio's pass-first game, said he talked with Rubio at the World Championships last summer and has kept in contact since.

• On whether Rubio's addition -- or if he decided to stay in Europe -- would influence Love's long-term intention to stay in Minnesota (his contract expires after next season):

''It would definitely be a factor,'' Love said. ''There is so much hype surrounding him, worst-case scenario is he'll attract a ton of fans. That would bring a lot of hype surrounding the team and would make us want to get better. I do believe he'd help the team."

• On if he wants to stay in Minnesota long-term: "If it all works out and it's all right, I think I definitely could. I enjoy the city, I like the people here, I like the organization. I like a lot of things about it besides the cold winter. ... I could definitely see myself here."

But Love also said he would be sure to gauge interest elsewhere before making a decision. Under current rules, the Wolves would have the right to match if Love signed an offer sheet with another team in 2012.

"You have to weigh your options," he said. "If there is a better opportunity out there, you have to look at your situation and see what's going to be best for me. ... But also, sometimes you have to go with your heart. When you break it down like that, it really could go either way. But if everything works out right here, I'll probably be here."

• On Rambis' future: Love said he supported Rambis, but agreed with teammate Anthony Tolliver, who recently said he wasn't sure all the players had bought into Rambis' system.

"I think Anthony is right in saying that," Love said. "If Kurt is going to be here, we all have to buy into his system and that will help us tremendously as an organization."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/119224224.html

Thought that last one was interesting.

It says a lot about the current system/roster of the team when players openly state that not everyone has bought into it.

[TMo519]

Well when you're 17-60, I kinda hope not everyone has bought into the system honestly, cause that'd be pretty sad if everyone is on the exact same page, on board with everything, and you can still only muster 17 wins. Most teams floundering this badly don't have everyone buying in, and I'm not saying that's necessarily an indictment on Rambis, but you don't win 17 games unless something isn't right, not when you have some talented pieces like the Wolves do (and I don't think I'm being that homerish about that opnion). We should have won a lot closer to 30 than only 17 IMO.

[Dewey]

I think Love is fine with Rambis' system ... I would say Flynn and Beasley (for example) are not.

IMO, Love and Johnson are the two mainstays along with Rubio. The 2011 draft pick and Randolph would get every chance to succeed ... Flynn and Beasley will be traded for best available (veteran) player they can convince to come here.

[Krapinsky]

I think Love is fine with Rambis' system ... I would say Flynn and Beasley (for example) are not.

IMO, Love and Johnson are the two mainstays along with Rubio. The 2011 draft pick and Randolph would get every chance to succeed ... Flynn and Beasley will be traded for best available (veteran) player they can convince to come here.

I don't know if Johnson has done anything to distinguish himself. I'd think Beasley and/or Webster would be just as likely to stay. In fact, Johnson might be the most likely to move depending on if he has retained some value around the league.

[AQuintus]

I'd think Beasley and/or Webster would be just as likely to stay. In fact, Johnson might be the most likely to move depending on if he has retained some value around the league.

I would guess that out of the 3, Beasley would be the most likely to stay. I remember earlier in the year, before Love's big breakout, that there was a rumor that if the team had to choose between Love or Beasley, they'd keep Beasley. I kind of doubt that their opinion of Beasley has dropped so much that they'd now choose Johnson over him.

Also, Kahn has been dropping a lot of hints that Rambis is on the hot seat lately. So, if the players aren't buying what he's selling, I'd think that it's more likely that he's replaced than the players are.

[abrewbro68]

LOL, Kahn isn't trading Beasley after one year, especially after it's his first year playing SF. And how could their opinion of Beasley changed? His production has dropped way off after the ankle injuries. Hell if you take off the games where he only played a handful of minutes because of the injuries he's still a 20ppg scorer.

[Krapinsky]

I'd think Beasley and/or Webster would be just as likely to stay. In fact, Johnson might be the most likely to move depending on if he has retained some value around the league.

I would guess that out of the 3, Beasley would be the most likely to stay. I remember earlier in the year, before Love's big breakout, that there was a rumor that if the team had to choose between Love or Beasley, they'd keep Beasley. I kind of doubt that their opinion of Beasley has dropped so much that they'd now choose Johnson over him.

Also, Kahn has been dropping a lot of hints that Rambis is on the hot seat lately. So, if the players aren't buying what he's selling, I'd think that it's more likely that he's replaced than the players are.

I haven't heard any hints.

[LOBO 7]

LOL, Kahn isn't trading Beasley after one year, especially after it's his first year playing SF. And how could their opinion of Beasley changed? His production has dropped way off after the ankle injuries. Hell if you take off the games where he only played a handful of minutes because of the injuries he's still a 20ppg scorer.

Or, he might be the MOST likely to be moved. Maybe he's been playing bug minutes despite his injuries because he's being showcased?

[southern wolf]

I think Love is fine with Rambis' system ... I would say Flynn and Beasley (for example) are not.

IMO, Love and Johnson are the two mainstays along with Rubio. The 2011 draft pick and Randolph would get every chance to succeed ... Flynn and Beasley will be traded for best available (veteran) player they can convince to come here.

I don't know if Johnson has done anything to distinguish himself. I'd think Beasley and/or Webster would be just as likely to stay. In fact, Johnson might be the most likely to move depending on if he has retained some value around the league.

I don't think Johnson would be the most likely to be moved, but he definitely hasn't done much to distinguish himself. I mean Flynn had a better rookie year in a system that didn't suit him at all, and he came in at a much younger age. You would think Wes would have shown a lot more consistency and poise being one of the oldest in the draft class.

[Breakdown777]

I think someone will be moved, but in order to determine who that someone is...it'd be nice to know who the FA is targeting. It seems like once you narrow down the options to players who haven't already been ruled via Kahn quotes...there aren't many left in the pool.

I think we'd move Beasley before Wes, but that is IF Rambis stays.

If Rambis goes, then we probably keep pretty much status quo while trying to improve C (let's face it, without Rambis, Darko probably won't be considered for heavy minutes). I can see us attempting to move Flynn, Pek, Picks, Webster, player rights, and perhaps Tolliver, in order to get a starting caliber vet.

Also, I'm not surprised that we had trouble acquiring vets. Even when we had KG, the best we could do was extending guys already here, Mike James, and a past his prime Jowuan Howard. With all the vets being big3 ring chasers, it's got to be difficult to get anyone without drastically overpaying.

[Grits n Gravy]

i would chuck pretty much all our free agent money at arron afflalo(still probably would get a better offer) and if he is brought here, trade wes, flynn, beasley & pekovic for a center maybe bogut or chandler(probably wouldn't be enough for bogut, chandler will not sign here as a FA)...this would uncluter our rotation. assuming we don't land the number one pick.

rubio/ridnour
afflalo/ (burks?)
barnes/ martell
love/ randolph
(bogut or chandler?)/ darko

elite post defender(bogut)
borderline elite perimeter defender(afflalo)
i likey long time, even if it means bringing a dam stinking australian to the team

luke and darko go from averageish starters to outstanding back ups