Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is kicking himself for not signing Kevin Love to a maximum five-year contract extension, but the team owner still has some criticism for the franchise’s former top player.
Though Taylor admitted at a press conference Tuesday that he regrets not giving Love the deal the forward sought in 2012, he did mention some shortcomings in the forward’s game.
Let’s start with the concerns over Love’s health.
“The only thing I still have a question mark about is his health,” Taylor said via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I had that concern then. I still have that concern, and Cleveland should have that concern, too: if he can keep his health. If they sign him to a five-year contract like they’re thinking about, that’s a big contract on a guy who’s had some times when he has missed games.”
That’s fair considering Love has gone through multiple wrist injuries and a knee surgery.
Taylor then took a shot at Love’s defense, which has widely been acknowledged as a weakness. He also said Love would be the No. 3 player on the Cleveland Cavaliers behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
“I question Kevin if this is going to be the best deal for him,” Taylor said of Love. “I think he’ll be the third player on a team. I don’t think he’ll get a lot of credit if they do really well. I think he’ll get the blame if they don’t do well. He’ll have to learn to handle that. He’s around a couple guys who are awful good.
“Now I’m not saying Kevin isn’t good. I think where he maybe got away with some stuff not playing defense on our team, I’m not sure how it’s going to work in Cleveland. I guess they will ask him to play more defense.”
Way to kick a guy on his way out!
If Taylor doesn’t think Love will be a key player on the Cavs and get a lot of credit for the team’s success — and they will succeed — then he’s every bit as nuts as I thought he was and that helps explain why his team has sucked for so long. This may be good for Love. Taylor’s thoughts could motivate him.
