Love provides hope for Minnesota fans that he will stay with team.
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love has addressed on-going rumors linking him with a free agency switch to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 25-year-old is likely to be one of the NBA’s most coveted free agents in the summer of 2015 and speculation suggests that the Lakers will be at the front of the queue of teams hoping to sign him.
However, Love has dismissed the notion that he isn’t even considering the option of staying in Minnesota, whilst also suggesting that a move to Los Angeles isn’t guaranteed to be a success.
“People think it’s so far-fetched that I would stay in Minnesota,” Love told GQ. “And I’m not s——- on the Lakers, but we have the better team, the better foundation. I’m having fun.”
The Dallas Mavericks have also been paired with an interest in Love, with the two teams reportedly looking to push for a trade deal ahead of the deadline on Thursday rather than wait until 2015.
Nevertheless, Love can become an unrestricted free agent after next season if he declines a player option on his contract with Minnesota, and with Kobe Bryant the only significant high-profile player under contract until then, the Lakers will have the salary cap space to make a move.
The Timberwolves star was born in Santa Monica, California and went on to play at UCLA, and naturally the three-time NBA All-Star has been heavily linked with a return to Los Angeles in recent times.
With his current team at 25-28 so far this year and facing the real possibility of missing out on the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, it remains to be seen whether or not he decides to continue alongside the likes of Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic.
Love is averaging 25.8 points and 13.2 rebounds this season, ranking in the top four in the NBA in each category.
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