'Wolves owner questions Kevin Love's health, willingness to play defense
Two first overall picks and Thaddeus Young wasn't enough for Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. He couldn't resist taking a few digs at outgoing forward Kevin Love.
"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," Taylor said in the Timberwolves' introductory press conference on Tuesday (via ESPN 1500.) "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."
Taylor also nit-picked Love's durability, citing injury concerns as the reason why he didn't support inking Love to a five-year extension when he had the chance. Had the Timberwolves opted for the five-year route, Love would likely still be with the team.
"The only thing that I still have a question mark about will be his health. I had that concern then, I still have that concern and I think Cleveland should have that concern, too," Taylor said. "If they sign him to a five-year contract like they're thinking about, I mean that's a big contract in a guy that's had some times where he's missed games"
Finally, Taylor took some shots at Love's defensive prowess. He questioned if Love will be able to get away with "not playing defense" in Cleveland as he did in Minnesota, and called Love "foul prone." Love, of course, boasts a career average of 2.2 fouls per game.
There's a measure of truth in everything Taylor said (minus the foul prone comment.) Love is an inattentive scorer, did miss most of 2012-13 with a hand injury and probably will be overlooked.
But to point out all of Love's flaws the moment after he left comes as a little harsh, especially considering he's the lowly franchise's first All-Star since Kevin Garnett. For a team that has largely struggled with attracting and producing stars over the last decade, it's a dangerous practice to smear its small handful of stars, even if it is after the fact. It's worth noting that Taylor also called out Garnett on his way out the door.
[H/T Eye on Basketball]