NBA Trade Rumors: Timberwolves Must Extend Kevin Love Now to Avoid Trade Demand

When will the GMs in the NBA ever learn?

This is a league that is controlled by its stars. You have to keep them happy, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are not abiding.

Their star forward Kevin Love is in his fourth year in the league and has been the lone bright spot in the Twin Cities since getting selected fifth overall in the 2008 draft.

New York Daily News columnist Peter Vecsey is reporting that the T-Wolves have yet to offer Love any sort of extension. A source told Vecsey that if an offer isn’t submitted by January 15, 10 days before the league deadline to extend player’s in Love’s position, then GM David Kahn shouldn’t even bother.

That’s when the situation will take a turn for the worst according to Vecsey:

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Supposedly, the restricted free agent — back for season four in superior shape and with amplified area-code accuracy — then will refuse to re-sign this summer or, if things are prolonged, the one after.

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The Timberwolves would be incredibly stupid if they don’t act quickly. This up-and-coming team has a tremendous young core for the first time in a decade with Love playing alongside Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley. The team currently sports a 2-3 record with consecutive wins over the Mavericks and the Spurs.

In five regular season games he has averaged 25.4 points and 15.2 rebounds and is looking like the odds-on favorite to win the rebounding crown for the second straight year. Love has been patient with management as they trot out a D-League caliber team alongside him.

Do they want to be in the position Orlando is currently in? Or how about Denver a year ago? It’s a recipe for disaster, and you can bet the Pau Gasol for Love rumors will be firing off at a fast and furious rate if the T-Wolves screw this up.

Show him the money, Minnesota, before this gets out of hand.