Wolves Midseason: Spreading The Love

Image via WikipediaThe Minnesota Timberwolves reached the NBA's All-Star break in what is, by now, familiar territory.  They are dead last in the Western Conference with a 13-43 record, miles behind teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers in terms of playoff positioning and talent.

But to the Wolves' credit, no matter how bad they are, there's always another NBA team that's worse.  This season that team is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who at 10-46 are learning the hard way what life without LeBron James is like.

When a team like the Wolves take big leads for three quarters only to watch them melt away in the fourth, or if they're never in the game to begin with, you take your good news where you can find it.  Right now it's Kevin Love, the first legitimate star the franchise has had since Kevin Garnett left.

Love has been making headlines for two reasons:  He leads the NBA in rebounds, and he's currently on a streak of 42 games in which he has scored and rebounded in double digits.  That's what's known as a double-double.

Love's play has earned him a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team.  He wasn't originally selected, but NBA commissioner David Stern nominated him to take the place of Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, who got hurt and can't play in Sunday's game at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

However, the Wolves need more than Love if they want to become relevant not only in the NBA, but to folks other than the diehards who populate Target Center.  Coach Kurt Rambis is trying his best, but he just doesn't have the talent to compete.  And Ricky Rubio, who Wolves general manager David Kahn believes is the future of the franchise?  Rubio's still playing in Spain, and is reportedly wanting the Wolves to trade his rights to either Boston, New York or Miami.  Can you blame him?

Then again, if Love keeps playing the way he does, and is willing to forgo greener pastures, the Wolves can build a team around him.  Who knows?  Maybe they can start winning games instead of playing for draft picks.  One can dream.