Will Kevin Love Stay Put When Free Agency Rolls Around?

The NBA’s Northwest division has two of the top teams in the Western Conference in Oklahoma City and Portland.

However, one team, the Minnesota Timberwolves has struggled this season. The Timberwolves are 24-27 on the season after losing their past 3 straight games and 6 of their past 10.

Minnesota’s biggest force is Kevin Love. However, his play is often over shadowed due to playing in such a small media market like Minnesota.

Questions are often asked as to whether Love can change, turnaround or carrying a franchise. Simply stated the answer is yes.

However, in 2015 and 2016 there will be a large number of NBA players entering free agency and one of those will be Love. There is much speculation to what the All-Star forward’s long term plans are.

There is no doubt about the talent Love possesses, the more important question is whether he is a player that can put a franchise up to the next level to be a legitimate contender for the NBA title.

If numbers are the only prerequisite then Love’s numbers are difficult to discount.

Through the first 51 games for Minnesota, Love has put together numbers that rival the best at his position. Love is fourth in the league in scoring, second in the league in rebounding and third in the league in player efficiency.

The thought that the numbers Love puts up are discounted in any way due to where and for who he plays is of course blatantly absurd. This is the NBA and Love is putting those numbers up against a deeply talented Western Conference.

There has been criticism and some of it is just about his defensive weakness and a possible lack of leadership on his part. However, part of that could be due to where he plays and his current situation of being stuck on a club that has great youth and talent but remains in neutral.

He has complained about the turnover that takes place on Minnesota and whether there is a real future plan for the franchise.

One new rumor making the rounds is that Love will play out his contract at Minnesota and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. That would return him to where he played his college basketball at UCLA. Yet the bigger reason is that the pull that the purple and gold has on players is tremendous.

However, the next question is whether Lover would play under the shadow of Kobe Bryant the aging superstar. If the biggest criticism is true and Love does not have the demeanor to be a true franchise leader, then playing with the likes of Kobe or even Chris Paul, same city different locker room, would be just what he is lacking.

Lest it be forgotten that the young man is just 25 and still looking for that perfect place to grow as a player and eventually be an NBA titleholder.

Regardless of the team Love decides upon, his unique combination of size, scoring and rebounding makes for a great start for any club to build around be they on the verge of a championship or putting together the means get there.

Time will tell what colored uniform he will decide looks best on him.