Just when the must-see Ricky Rubio Timberwolves, the preeminent 2-3 team in NBA history, are becoming post-Kevin Garnett relevant, I got the call yesterday I didn’t want to hear.
According to the messenger, All-Star Kevin Love has not been offered an extension.
Think the double-double emperor’s feelings are bruised?
Think agent Jeff Schwartz might be putting the pressure on GM David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor to make a proposal pronto?
You got that right; according to my source, if one isn’t submitted by Jan. 15, 10 days before the league deadline to enrich players in Love’s position (Russell Westbrook is another), then don’t bother.
Supposedly, the restricted free agent — back for season four in superior shape and with amplified area-code accuracy — then will refuse to re-sign this summer or, if things are prolonged, the one after.
Obviously, Kahn and Taylor are not going to let that happen. Obviously, they’re not going to bungle this million dollar baby. Obviously, they’re going to do the right thing.
Come on, this is easy.
After a mortifying four-year term, the Timberwolves have assembled a cluster of legitimate playoff pieces. Think management is going to mess this up?
The additions of Rubio and Derrick Williams impeccably supplement Love, Michael Beasley (OK, I’m being kind; he continues to shoot too many unsavory shots), Darko Milicic, Anthony Tolliver, Anthony Randolph, Wesley Johnson and Luke Ridnour. And Rick Adelman and his staff are there to guide and comfort them.
Now is not the time Love should be remotely leaning to leave.
For the first time in his college and pro career, he has a coach who understands the value of keeping him close to the boards on defense (vs. showing 20 to 25 feet away) and putting the ball in his hands when circumstances shriek for cold-blooded makes.
With all due respect to Ridnour, whose creativity is limited and judgment suspect (feeding Beasley the ball outside three straight times makes it all worthless), it’s also the first time Love is runnin’ with Wolves who flaunt a miracle whip pack leader in Rubio whose adroit looks give everyone an enhanced chance to score.
That includes Love, who now boasts a graceful step-back from beyond high tide (5-for-6 on 3-pointers in Sunday’s win over Dallas). During a crucial fourth-quarter stretch after the Mavericks had closed a 15-point deficit to 84-82 with 5:03 remaining, Love delivered back-to-back from off-shore.
Following a Randolph corner 22-footer, Rubio (14 points, seven assists) and Love (averaging 25 points and 15.2 rebounds; career averages: 15.2 and 11.8) pooled their intellect for a captivating, wrap-around bounce pass in traffic and layup finish.
Jonny Flynn might want to stay up all night and study the tape of that play.
OK, so why is Love’s posse freakin’ out? More important, why hasn’t management taken care of business?
As usual, it’s all about the benjamins. One of the league’s new rules authorizes a team to designate one of its own a maximum paid player — five years vs. four — once during the current collective bargaining agreement. A team may sign a second max player as long as it’s an opponent’s free agent.
Love knows for sure he’s going to strike it rich. It’s just a matter of how rich. Taylor is certain to commit to four years, some $60 million. Five years is in the neighborhood of $78 million. The sole reason the fifth year is temporarily uncertain is because the T’wolves then would be restricted to re-enlisting Rubio or Williams (he’s that good!) — or signing an acquired franchise-caliber player — for four years down the line.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade sacrificed money so Chris Bosh could be sufficiently compensated by the Heat. No doubt the Timberwolves are hoping Love will be down with the same concept.
* So, DeMarcus Cousins has demanded the Kings trade him.
“I’m on it,” David Stern said.
“Might DeMarcus need DeMedication?” wonders column chondriac Richie Kalikow. “Sometimes he’s funny, sometimes confrontational. Haven’t seen such diverse behavior in Cousins since Patty and Cathy Duke.”
Marreese Speights is buried so far down Doug Collins’ 76ers bench, it would take an injury to Harvey Pollack for him to get playing time.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert described the new CBA as “fair overall.” He made the announcement during a one-hour special hosted by Jim Gray.
In a quirk of this condensed-soup schedule, the Celtics — who began a five-game homestand last night in a back-ender against the Lizards — actually have four days off after Friday night’s game against the Pacers.
Not to suggest they’re old, but during the rare hiatus, the Celtics plan to stay in shape by dusting one another.
* I understand it’s a mere one game, and that one game was against the defensively-deficient Sacrificial Kings, but sans Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks looked so much more cohesive, Michael Douglas could have been playing the point.
“If I’m a Time Warner customer and I’m without the Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Islanders during this latest cable hissing contest, I demand to have the Nets removed, too,” decided column castigator Frank Drucker.
It’s not all bad for Screw Jersey. Seems Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is planning to kick-start his Russian presidential campaign with a big showing today in Iowa.