Kevin Love Contract: Timberwolves Sign All-Star To Four-Year Deal Worth $62 Million

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Kevin Love Contract: Four Years Or Not, Player Happy To Remain With Timberwolves

More: Reaction to Love contract and opt out clause

The Minnesota Timberwolves have locked up Kevin Love in a new contract, even if it's only good for four years, with an opt-out clause after the third year, but they've locked him up nonetheless. While the length is a question raised by many, they're not likely to get a straight answer out of Wolves general manager David Kahn, who simply thinks five years is too long:

Kahn said 4-year insistence wasn't about $ or D.P. slot, but 5 yr deal is really 6 years out and "that's a long time." Too much uncertainty

Well, then he thinks six years is too long. Either way, Kahn insisted on four years, and that's what Love ended up agreeing upon. One has to wonder why the opt-out clause is there, though most are of the opinion that Love included it on the chance that he doesn't like the direction the team is going after a few years. That's a valid point given the fact that Love, the team's best player, was only given a four-year deal. It's a big circle.

That being said, Love is happy to be with Minnesota for an extended period of time. The Star Tribune has some quotes from Love, who says he's excited for the coaching staff and really, everyone involved. Love also states that there were many times he thought that a deal wouldn't get done, and considered just playing out his current deal until he became a free agent. Still, he loves where he's at:

"I wanted to be here," he said. "I love Minnesota. I love the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. I love the fans. Everyone who has been around me the last four years know that.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

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Kevin Love Contract: Deal Reportedly Includes Player Option After Third Year

The threat of losing Kevin Love or having to live with an unhappy superstar player is just about at an end for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, as it looks like he could be inked to a new contract before the day is over. Some reports suggest that he could sign immediately after the morning shootaround. Either way, we've got some more details on the contract, these ones from Chris Broussard:

Kevin Love will sign four-year extension with Twolves with player option after third year, sources say. Max deal: 4 years, $62-$64 million.

So Love will be getting the max deal for those years, but the most note-worthy thing is the fact that there's an opt-out for Love after the third year. With the contract talks taking this long to get finalized, one has to wonder if the opt-out was a major sticking point for Love, but then again, those kinds of deals are never really any sign that a player wants to leave. As a player, you want to give yourself the most advantages you can possibly get.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

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Kevin Love Contract: Timberwolves Close To Deal With Big Man?

With the eleventh hour approaching, the Minnesota Timberwolves may or may not have landed an extension with their star big man Kevin Love. According to Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press, an agreement is in place. Love becomes a unrestricted free agent this summer if a deal is not reached and in writing by Wednesday at midnight eastern time.

Richardson's report says the supposed deal is worth $62 million for four years, which would mean the T-Wolves did not make Love their "designated player" and give him the maximum $78 million over five years.

Now, for what it's worth, less than an hour after Richardson's post went up, Kevin Love tweeted, "if you read it on the internet it must be true right?" making it pretty implicitly clear that Richardson's report is erroneous. Marc Stein tweeted shortly thereafter that the two sides have not agreed to anything and talks are still "ongoing." A google search renders a result from ESPN with the headline, "Report: Kevin Love, Wolves agree," but when you click on it, the headline changes to, "Sources: Kevin Love, Wolves talking."

Therefore, I think it's probably safe to assume that nothing is final yet, but things appear to be getting closer, close enough for Minnesota beat writers to jump the gun. Stay tuned for more updates.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NBA hub at SBNation.com/NBA.

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Kevin Love Contract: Negotiations Still Taking Place As Zero-Hour Nears

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported early Tuesday morning that the Timberwolves were still in negotiations with star forward Kevin Love.

According to the paper, different sources with the team have different reports. One said that the team was "closing in" on a five-year, $78 million contract, while another said that the Timberwolves were standing pat on their four-year offer for $61 million.

The Star Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda wrote,

An agreement could come as soon as Tuesday morning or considering the unnecessary wait so far, it could stretch toward that deadline, just like the Al Jefferson contract four years wasn’t finalized until just minutes before the deadline.

If there is no deal by Wednesday night, Love can become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Love, who had 39 points and 12 boards in Monday’s loss to the Rockets, is averaging 24.9 points and 13.9 rebounds, which is in the top five in the NBA in both categories.

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Kevin Love Contract: Timberwolves Forward To Receive Max Offer

The Star-Tribune reported Thursday that the Timberwolves are offering star forward Kevin Love a maximum-salary contract.

Love is slated to become a free agent at the end of the season, but a max offer would keep him in Minnesota for years to come. Depending on whether or not the Timberwolves make Love a “designated player,” a max deal would net him either $61 million over four years or, with the “designated player” tag, $78 million over five years.

The Star-Tribune reports that Minnesota would prefer to save their “designated player” tag for the future, but that the Wolves might have to use it now to keep their marquee big man around.

Love, a fourth-year player, is fourth in the league in points (25.2) and second in rebounds (14.5), is making $4.6 million this year. He is shooting 36 percent from downtown and nearly 81 percent from the free throw line. Love is tops in the league in free throws per game, and is second to only Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins in offensive rebounding, snaring 4.8 per game.