Kevin Love: All-Star Forward Must Be Patient with Minnesota Timberwolves' Brass

The players run the show in today's NBA. In that world, the words 'I want to win' usually translates to 'I am going to demand a trade unless you bring another star to town.'

The Minnesota Timberwolves better hope that isn't the case in their neck of the woods. On Monday, ESPN reported (per Yahoo! Sports) that Kevin Love, Minnesota's All-Star forward, was growing impatient with the Timberwolves franchise.

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"My patience is not high," Love told Yahoo! Sports. "Would yours be, especially when I'm a big proponent of greatness surrounding itself with greatness? All these (Team USA) guys seem to have great players around them.

"It's tough seeing all these guys that are young and older who have all played in the playoffs. When they start talking about that, I have nothing to talk about. If I don't make the playoffs next year, I don't know what will happen."

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Love later states that he likes his contract, but he wants to win. This is all typical star "stuff," but I have to say it surprises me coming from Love. When he signed his four year, $62 million extension in January, I thought he was one of the "different" ones.

I'd hoped that his modesty was cut from the same cloth as the Kevin Durants of the NBA, but I may be wrong.

I can't blame him for wanting to win. If you don't want to win you shouldn't be playing the game, but he has to be patient.

Minnesota is one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and their future is bright. Ricky Rubio (assuming he returns to full form) is a perfect facilitator for the offense, and Derrick Williams has a very encouraging future ahead of him.

The Minnesota front office has shown the urge to improve. They've pursued Pau Gasol throughout the offseason and are on the verge of signing swingman Nic Batum.

Neither of these players are in uniform yet, but the point is obvious. Minnesota is trying to improve. They realize they have one of the NBA's most unique star players, and they want to build around him. A few pieces (Rubio and Williams) are already in place, and the current cupboard isn't bare.

If Love is patient, and guys like Wesley Johnson reach their potential, the Timberwolves aren't far away from making some noise in the Western Conference.

Love has to be patient, though. Putting pressure on his front office to improve won't do anything but harm the direction the team is currently heading in. It's not going to benefit anyone. Minnesota will be shambles, and Love's name won't be clear of the "selfish" star persona any longer.

Hopefully we don't hear about this for long. Love is a likable guy, and Minnesota isn't far from where they need to be.