Kevin Love: All-Star Forward Agrees to 4-Year Deal with Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love is back on Twitter, and today, it's great news: 

"To #twolves fans: I'll be in Minnesota for 4 more years! Excited to see you when I get back to Minneapolis."

Love has agreed to compromise with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The fourth-year forward trimmed up over the offseason and has been playing better than ever, averaging 24.9 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.

Although Love and his agent Jeff Schwartz originally looked for the maximum contract of $80 million over five years, the UCLA alum now agreed for a four-year contract worth $62 to $64 million. The advantage—and probably selling point—of this deal for Love is the inclusion of an opt-out clause for the final year.

Timberwolves GM David Kahn resisted the five-year deal in order to maintain a sense of flexibility for the ballclub in the upcoming years.

According to ESPN's Chris Boussard, teams are allowed to offer a five-year extension to just one "designated" player. If Minnesota was to use the maximum deal on Love, the franchise would lack security on rookie Ricky Rubio in the upcoming years.

Kahn took a major risk in withholding the $80-million option, and some criticized him heavily. After all, one could argue that having a lock on Rubio wouldn't mean much if Love relocated.

However, this final agreement admittedly proves practical for both parties. Minnesota reserves the maximum contract option for a future situation—most likely to be used on Rubio—and Love can remain on a team he knows and enjoys while having a "Plan B" in the final year if the Timberwolves continue to struggle.

Marc Stein weighed in:

"

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com that Love was determined to have the ability to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons, to ensure that he likes the direction of the team.

"

Fair enough.

Minnesota fans, join me in a collective sigh of relief—our All-Star is here to stay.