Kevin Love Foolish to Consider Signing with New Team over Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love had made it perfectly clear that he wanted a contract extension with the club.

Now that the Wolves appear ready to do so, Love needs to put his name on that piece of paper.

The bottom line is that he would be foolish to consider signing with any team other than Minnesota.

For one, he's the face of the franchise. Love likely won't get that if he chooses to sign in a bigger market whenever the time comes.

Secondly, he's a big part of something that has the chance to be very special. With Love and young point guard Ricky Rubio already in place, the Timberwolves have the building blocks in place to be competitive for years to come.

Finally, there are the financial aspects of any potential deal with Minnesota.

The Wolves can offer Love a five-year extension worth about $84 million. If he chose to sign a max deal with another team next summer, he wouldn't be getting that fifth year.

There's also the fact that Minnesota can and likely would match all offers to Love.

The contract particulars break down like this according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minnesota Star Tribune:

"

The Wolves can offer a five-year extension with 7.5 percent raises annually IF they offer him a max contract (a quarter of their salary cap, about $14.5 million a year) and new "designated player" status. Other teams can offer four years and 4.5 percent raises -- about $65 million total -- if he doesn't sign now and becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

"

The one bit of leverage that Love has is that he could sign a qualifying offer next season and become an unrestricted free agent the following summer.

While that may sound tempting, Love is a big part of something in Minnesota.

Not signing an extension with the Timberwolves would be a big mistake not only professionally, but financially as well.