March 2, 2011 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves expected to offer Kevin Love $70 million contract extension

Kevin Love is an extremely good basketball player. You know it. I know it. The people know it. And the Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly know it.

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports:

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love can look forward to a contract extension offer of six years in the $70 million range once a new NBA labor deal is reached, a little birdie says.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement expires June 30.

Love, 22, can become a restricted free agent after the 2012-2013 season. The Wolves have no intention of letting him get that far.

Love, who is being paid $4.61 million this season and is signed for $6.1 million next season, leads the NBA in rebounding (15.5 average) and double-doubles (56, five more than Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin), and ranks 18th in scoring with a 20.9-point average.

Love said Tuesday evening that he likes Minnesota and hopes to remain here.

Keeping Love will be great for the Wolves, though they definitely need to pack more talent around him. He’s a rebounding superstar, but not a top offensive or defensive star who can carry a team into the playoffs on his own.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dwight Howard says Orlando is the most attracive place for him

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Dwight Howard says Orlando is the place for him

Dwight Howard better get used to more days like Tuesday.

The Record newspaper, which is based in Bergen County, N.J., reported that New Jersey Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov and General Manager Billy King recently spoke with point guard Deron Williams and told Williams that Dwight Howard tops the list of free agents the Nets plan to pursue.

Understandably, a group of writers from New York area news outlets asked Howard before the Magic’s game against the New York Knicks if the Nets are any more “attractive” now with Williams.

“Orlando’s the most attractive place for me right now,” Howard answered, a smile on his face. “They have a sexy new arena, a beautiful franchise, nice banners around here and been in the top four in the Eastern Conference for the past four years. Yes, Orlando’s the most attractive place right now.”

Raymond Felton describes his game

Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reports:

Ask Felton what his greatest attribute as a basketball player is and he’ll hit you with one word: leader.

“When you talk about my game, you might say I’m fast off the dribble, I can get in the paint, I pass the ball, whatever. Tenacious defender,”

Felton said Tuesday. “One thing people always say about me is I’m a leader, and that’s what I’ve always been. So, I keep that role everywhere I go.”

And that’s good for the Nuggets. When the 6-foot-1 Felton arrived in Denver a week ago as part of the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade with New York, Felton, 26, said Nuggets coach George Karl told him his first task was to lead.

Felton’s leadership showed up big Monday night in a victory over Atlanta, when he took over in the fourth quarter of what was a close game. In the final period, he scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and had three assists as the Nuggets pulled away late.