NBA Rumors and News Roundup: Kevin Love Contract Extension Update and More

Kevin Love's contract extension is a hot topic of conversation with the Wednesday night deadline looming.

Despite the attention that Love has received with the issue, he is not the only player actively negotiating an extension; several teams around the league have important decisions to make about the future.

The 2008 draft class is eligible for long-term extensions, and there are a number of notable players who could close the day with some financial security for the future.

D.J. Augustin

Augustin's big toe has given rise to an extended role for Kemba Walker, but the Bobcats have to be hoping that their floor general is back sooner rather than later.

Ball movement was severely lacking on Tuesday night with Augustin out of the lineup, but he'll be out at least three more games with the crack between bones in his toe.

Instead of using an injection to seal the crack, Augustin will undergo electric stimulation and ice therapy in order to treat the injury.

MarShon Brooks

Nets fans received somewhat of a scare when Brooks was a surprise scratch in his last game due to a sore Achilles, and that's because he had some similar issues during his collegiate tenure.

After undergoing an MRI, results came back negative and did not reveal any significant damage to his Achilles' tendon.

He's looked every bit like a draft-day steal for the Nets as the No. 25 overall pick, and there is good reason to get excited about his future with the club.

Flip Saunders

Saunders was undoubtedly the scapegoat for the 2-15 start to the season for the Wizards, and he was fired on Tuesday afternoon by the franchise.

Washington has legitimate problems at both ends of the court right now, and there are concerns about the makeup of the roster going forward.

This team really needs to undergo a total overhaul, and it wouldn't be surprising if massive changes come during the offseason if the Wizards continue to disappoint throughout the year.

Ray Allen

Allen's ankle injury was not considered to be a serious one, but he's unlikely to play in Thursday's game against the Magic because he didn't travel with the team.

The Celtics certainly won't rush the veteran back out onto the floor, and he's not expected to miss too much time going forward.

He's struggled a bit this year to find his offensive opportunities, but he's getting back into the swing of things and should be his usual consistent self all year long.

Luol Deng

The Bulls and Deng got some difficult news on Tuesday: he has a torn ligament in his wrist and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Tom Thibodeau classified his starting small forward's status as week to week, but Deng plans to avoid surgery and play through the pain when he's able to do so.

Deng has been a big part of what the Bulls have done thus far in the 2011-12 season, and the team will need him on the court in order to pursue its title hopes.

Eric Gordon

David Stern has signed off on the idea of giving Eric Gordon a contract extension, and now the Hornets and Gordon will look to negotiate a deal prior to the Wednesday deadline.

Gordon has been dealing with knee troubles all year, and the Hornets will proceed with caution in extending the talented shooting guard.

He has star potential at the position, but he hasn't played in a full slate of regular season games since coming into the league.

He'll have to prove he's capable of staying on the court for sustained stretches at a time to fulfill the aforementioned potential.

Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari has enjoyed his tenure with the Nuggets since arriving in Denver, and he's going to be in blue and yellow for a long time.

Gallinari and the Nuggets have reached an agreement on a four-year, $42 million contract extension hours before the Wednesday deadline to do so.

It's a great deal for Denver, and there is no question Gallo would've received more money in the offseason had the team been unable to facilitate a deal.

Kevin Love

The Minnesota Timberwolves have to get the deal done with Kevin Love. Period.

Pay the man or risk losing him in the future, and that's not a gamble that this franchise can afford to make.

It was reported on Tuesday night that Love will sign a four-year, $62 million extension on Wednesday in Dallas, but that report was refuted shortly after it was initially made public information.

Love was reportedly "visibly angry" with David Kahn's last contract offer, and there is no reason for the front office to be messing around with its most important player.

The T-Wolves have to lock up Love for the long haul.

UPDATE: Kevin Love is expected to sign a four-year extension with Minnesota worth more than $60 million, and he will have an opt-out clause in his contract after the third season.