Kevin Love: “We had bad blood in the locker room. We got that out” – NBA Update
Kevin Love is presently with Team USA, bound for 2012 London Olympics. However, he just can’t get his mind off the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kevin had recently said that his patience is running thin and the Wolves need to start winning. He had demanded some re enforcements in the roster and on Friday, he reiterated that.
But along with that he also said something that is going to rage a debate in the days to come.
“If we get everybody back healthy, with Ricky (Rubio) back healthy, if (Brandon) Roy comes in healthy, and if we can get off to a good start, we’re going to be good. But we really have to add as many as pieces as we possibly can,
veteran guys.”
Love then added;
“There was some bad blood in that locker room we were able to get out of there and smooth things out. That should help us out going forward.”
When asked to elaborate as to whom he was pointing out, Love refused to take a specific name:
“Just what I said. We had bad blood in the locker room. We got that out.”
The Wolves have parted ways with forwards Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph, centre Darko Milicic and guard Martell Webster this off season.
The most probable person about whom Love has talked about can be Michael Beasley, who just signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Beasley had a reputation of being a trouble maker even before he played his first game in NBA. After being selected as the number two pick back in 2008, he was caught with possession of marijuana in the rookie training camp, and
was eventually fined $ 50,000. He started off with the Miami Heat, but was traded to the Wolves two seasons back when LeBron James and Chris Bosh brought their talents to the South Beach.
Although Beasley’s numbers improved in Minnesota, he couldn’t really live up to his potential, and his attitude had a lot to do with that.
Beasley has over the years developed the reputation of a shot blocker, who demands a lot of shots and never quite makes an effort on the defensive end. First two years with him, saw the Wolves and Love finish at the bottom of the
league. Moreover, he is inconsistent and likes to steal the limelight.
Love, is the complete opposite of that and has in the past few years, become the face and the leader of the franchise. That might have been enough to stir some differences between Love and Beasley.
The Wolves desperately want to keep Love happy, and that might have been the reason, they did not pursue Beasley in the free agency. And it is not that they will suffer because of that. Minnesota have an able substitution in the
form of Derrick Williams, and are also believed to be pursuing Andrei Kirilenko to add depth.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: