Sonstiges » e to play for a team that hasnt made the playoffs

MINNEAPOLIS -- During a weekend trip to Boston, All-Star forward Kevin Love has been taking pictures with fans and seeing the sights, leading Celtics fans to speculate that hes going to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Garnett as the next Minnesota star to come to town and turn around a struggling franchise. Not so fast, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said. "The last I knew Kevin was under contract with us, and I expect him to be playing for us next year," Saunders said Sunday after a workout of draft prospects. "I dont really dictate where guys go on vacation or what they do. They can go wherever they want to go." Love can opt out of his contract after next season, and the three-time All-Star has yet to make the playoffs in six years with the Timberwolves. He was also angered when former executive David Kahn refused to give him a full, five-year extension and instead gave him a four-year deal with a player option after three. Thats led many to believe that he will leave next summer to play for a contender in a bigger market. "Yo (at)kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know .CityOfChamps," tweeted Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who spent six years with the Minnesota Twins before signing with the Red Sox as a free agent and winning three World Series titles. The situation has prompted the Timberwolves to consider a trade to avoid losing Love without compensation. But Saunders has made it clear that he doesnt feel as though he has to make a move this summer. He views Love as one of the top offensive players in the league, a 25-year-old who has improved his game every off-season. So if other teams do want to get their hands on one of the NBAs top power forwards, it wont be easy. "I know theres a feeding frenzy out there from a lot of teams," Saunders said. "Unfortunately, they have no say. I plan on Kevin being here." If Saunders was posturing, he has good reason. The draft isnt until June 26, and the best offers from teams desperate to land Love dont figure to start rolling in until the week of the draft, or perhaps not even until draft night, and Saunders has plenty of options. He could move him right around draft time for what is expected to be a package that includes high picks and a veteran player or two. He could wait for July 1 and look to build a package around more established, veteran talent. Or he could hold on to Love, try to add a few pieces to a team that finished 10th in the West, and hire the right coach to replace the retired Rick Adelman and show Love that the team is headed in the right direction. It worked for the Portland Trail Blazers with LaMarcus Aldridge, and it worked years ago for the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. The Wolves can also pay Love about $26.5 million more than any other team. And if Love still does depart after next summer, the Wolves wont be left empty-handed. Theyll have about $17 million in extra salary cap room to attack the free agent market, though luring stars to a wintry climate to play for a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2004 has always proved to be a challenge. The next big step will be hiring a coach. The Wolves had discussions with Memphis Dave Joerger over Memorial Day weekend, but Joerger stayed with the Grizzlies, who sweetened his contract to remain with the 50-win team. Saunders said he will meet with Wolves owner Glen Taylor this week to evaluate the search, which has been influenced some by the uncertainty surrounding Love. When asked if he would have a coach in place by the June 26 draft, Saunders said "theres probably a better chance that we would than we wouldnt. Were not going to put a time frame on it." As for those excited Celtics fans, Saunders said they should calm down. But he knows they wont. "Theyre the same fans who thought they had Tim Duncan," he joked. "They still think they got Tim Duncan in the draft. Im not really sure, but the last I looked he was playing for San Antonio, Old Man Riverwalk." Hydro Flask Korting . Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday. Hydro Flask Nederland .Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored in the 14th minute to give Wellington its fourth win, along with a draw, from its past five matches, putting the Phoenix fourth but only a point behind third-placed Adelaide. http://www.hydroflaskkorting.com/. -- Theres something about playing on Orlandos floor lately that seems to bring out the best in the Dallas Mavericks. Hydro Flask Ombre . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. Hydro Flask Coffee . Giants manager Bruce Bochy told The Associated Press of the decision before NL West-leading San Francisco opened a 10-game homestand Monday night with the first of three games against second-place Arizona.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Kobe Bryant earned his 17th trip to the All-Star Game by being voted in as a starter for the Western Conference. Bryant earned one of the Wests starting guard spots over the leagues leading scorer, James Harden, but the Lakers revealed Thursday Bryant has a right torn rotator cuff and will be sidelined indefinitely. Bryant garnered 1,152,402 votes --- 83,034 more than Harden. The other starting guard for the West is Golden States Stephen Curry, who overcame Clevelands LeBron James over the past week to earn the most overall votes with 1,513,324. James, an All-Star starter in 11 straight seasons and twoo-time All-Star MVP, accumulated 1,470,483 votes.dddddddddddd Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Grizzlies center Marc Gasol make up the Wests frontcourt. New York forward Carmelo Anthony and Chicago big man Pau Gasol will join James in frontcourt for the Eastern Conference, while Washington point guard John Wall and Torontos Kyle Lowry make up the backcourt. Lowry (805,290) jumped Miamis Dwyane Wade (789,839) for the final guard spot. Atlantas Mike Budenholzer and Golden States Steve Kerr will be the head coaches for the game, which is set for Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden. ' ' '