Kevin Love Contract: New Deal Could Result in Another Lost Superstar

The Minnesota Timberwolves believe they made the right move.

The future could prove otherwise.

Kevin Love agreed to a four-year extension with the Timberwolves that is worth between $60 million and $62 million, according to the AP (h/t oregonlive.com). The deal, however, isn’t what it appears to be at first glance. While it will certainly please fans for the immediate future, it could prove to be detrimental to the team’s long term success.

Love has said up until now and continues to state that he had a desire to get the maximum five-year deal for $80 million. It would have been the same deal the Chicago Bulls gave MVP Derrick Rose and the Oklahoma City Thunder gave point guard Russell Westbrook.

However, the Timberwolves were not so willing to give Love that type of deal and instead game him a four-year extension in hopes of using the maximum deal in the future on a young star such as Ricky Rubio or Derrick Williams. That is where the problems arise.

The contract allows for Love to opt out of his contract after his third year which would put him as a unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2015. If by that point the Timberwolves are not a successful team that is at least contending for a playoff spot, it is easy to imagine Love taking his talents to the market and looking to join a contender somewhere around the league.

The philosophy of the Minnesota front office is certainly understandable. This team, though, is one that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2003-2004 and is currently sitting last in the Northwest Division with a 7-10 record. Love is the closest thing this team and fanbase has seen of a superstar since Kevin Garnett was in a Timberwolves uniform leading the team to consistent playoff appearances. Now the team is taking a big risk of losing Love after three seasons despite having the opportunity to lock him up.

Rubio has been one of the most impressive rookies this season with his flashy style of play at the point guard position. Williams is believed to be a star for the future with his ability to both post up and shoot the mid-range jumper. Both players were first-round picks and have a lot of confidence built in them from the Timberwolves front office.

Despite that, they have not produced like Love has and especially not as consistently. He has averaged over 10 rebounds a game the past three seasons as well as over 14 points per contest. Last season, he led the league with 15 rebounds per game and posted a 30-30 game that we haven’t seen since the likes of Moses Malone.

The Timberwolves play in the Northwest Division which is developing a reputation as one of the best in the league. All four teams (Thunder, Blazers, Jazz and Nuggets) in the division are extremely talented and also surrounded by youth. The Timberwolves, while talented, do not appear to have the ability to climb up the standings in any of the next couple of years.

Simply put: If the Timberwolves do not make some major improvement in the next three seasons, the loss of Kevin Love could be gloomy for a franchise that is just now beginning to recover from the loss of Kevin Garnett.

While the future of the franchise was certainly thought about when trying to wrap up Kevin Love to a four-year extension, the inability to offer him a maximum offer could result in another lost superstar and more missed playoff appearances for the Minnesota Timberwolves.