Taking issue with Kevin Love calling trade “his decision”
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August 27, 2014Newly acquired power forward Kevin Love thinks his former boss, Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, should focus more on the players he acquired than the one that left.
Following the announcement of the deal that sent Love to Cleveland for two No. 1 draft picks and a future first-rounder, Taylor took a parting shot at his former All-Star.
“I question Kevin if this is going to be the best deal for him because I think he’s going to be the third player on a team. I don’t think he’s going to get a lot of credit if they do really well. I think he’ll get the blame if they don’t do well. He’s going to have to learn to handle that. I think he’s around a couple guys are awful good. Now I’m not saying that Kevin’s not good, but I think where maybe he got away with some stuff, not playing defense on our team, I’m not sure how that’s going to work in Cleveland. So I would guess they’re going to ask him to play more defense. And he’s foul-prone.
“Kevin brought us certain scoring ability and records, but the ultimate goal is getting into the playoffs and winning a championship.”
This isn’t Taylor’s first rodeo. After trading Kevin Garnett to the Celtics back in 2007, Taylor questioned the sure-fire Hall of Famer’s effort. Garnett would go on to win a championship in 2008. And never mind that the “foul prone” Love has had five fouls or more in just 19 of the 364 games he has played in his career, fouling out just once.
The entire interview regarding Love had the makings of one of those statements where someone says “I don’t mean to offend anyone, but…” before saying something incredibly outlandish. Alas, in an interview with ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning on Wednesday, Love said the following:
“I think emotions are definitely running high right now. For Glen to say that, I just think that he should be focusing on the players that he just received. I mean, he has two of the No. 1 picks in the last two drafts: Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. He has another guy who can really play in Thaddeus Young. I think he got a lot for me. So I’d be focusing even more on that. More than anything, I’m just excited to start my time in Cleveland, get to work with my new teammates, and start with this new family here.
It’s been a contentious situation between Love and the Wolves’ management over the last two-plus years, starting with former Wolves’ president David Kahn and the fact that the team would not make him a maximum-contract player. Taylor intimated that the Cavs should be careful with such an extension given Love’s injury history, but quickly contradicted himself by saying he would have signed Love to a five-year deal had he been given the chance to go back and do it all over again.
[Related: Taking issue with Kevin Love calling trade “his decision”]
15 Comments
I’d hardly say Love was shooting back. In fact, I give credit to him for his measured words (conceding, in high road-fashion, that “emotions are definitely running high”). In the full int, he said he thought he had a good relationship with Taylor, etc.
That was all he had to say, since it was plain to see for the rest of the world that the owner was suffering a classic case of woman scorned….i.e. unrequited Love.
No fight to be seen here folks.
While I think Love would leave regardless because he is ready to play for a team that can compete, the Wolves largely did this to themselves by failing to pay Love what he was due after his rookie contract. Taylor comes off small in his comments, especially about Love’s defensive propensities, and I’m glad Love took the high road.
Agree. Relatively measured response if his personality doesn’t permit him a “no comment” response.
I think I need to create an app with perfect Crash Davis responses for these jocks. They’re already looking at their phones during interviews so who will know. Here ya go, Kev: “You know, I respect Mr. Taylor and I think he understands this was a difficult decision for me because of my feelings for him, the organization and of course those great fans. The only thing I can focus on now is my new team and winning a championship.”
[Optional addition, if it can be said while holding down breakfast: “Minnesota will always be my second home.”]
Also make one for answering any question Mary Kay asks.
I think you may be on to something big:
Reporter: Mr. Gordon, what do you have to say about the new allegations of the 2 pounds of marijuana found in your locker?
[clicks on Harv21 athlete response app…scrolls down past domestic violence, past DUIs..to appropriate section on weed busts]
“I’ve been trying to learn not to be generous to a fault, that so-called friends who ask for storage space don’t necessarily have my best interests or the team’s best interests at heart. I’ve apologized to my coach and teammates and Mr. Haslam. I apologize to the fans, they’ve always supported me and deserve better than these distractions. I must learn better judgment and I will.”
Ask and ye shall receive. This works for any question from MKC:
http://i.imgur.com/oOht4jb.gif
“Thanks, Mary Kay, I also think you’re kinda hot for someone of your, uh, era.” [Maybe Johnny can have this in flashcard form to waive at her while he fields the next question from someone else.]
LEAVE MARY KAY ALONE!!!!
YOU BASTARDS ARE LUCKY THAT SHE EVEN WRITES FOR YOU!!!!
I was actually hoping he would snipe back. The NBA could use a little trash talking rivalry instead of everybody being buddy-buddy, especially with Lebron.
“Also, the weed would like to apologize for its actions.”
(Now he can’t get suspended for more than 2 games)
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/LUTst1.gif
LEAVE MARY KAY ALONE.
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120512001906/victorious/images/d/de/LEAVE_BRITNEY_ALONE!_gif.gif
She doesn’t write for us, she writes for her dad’s retirement village and anyone else who reads it is just frosting on the cupcake to her.
The whole “2 pounds of marijuana” line reminded me if an old Richard Pryor bit where he was a lawyer trying to explain to the judge that the only reason his client was dealing cocaine was to help his poorsick mother. And the reason he has 20 kilos of cocaine was because he was trying to raise the funds to buy her a hospital in the Bahamas.
In summation, Richard Pryor was awesome