Kevin Love signs a contract extension with a curious opt-out clause

Add Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love to the litany of big market players that are choosing to stay with their small market teams, not unlike LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook*. We'll get to that strange list later. First, everyone applaud Love and the Timberwolves for signing what could turn into a four-year, $62 million contract extension. Then, everyone freak out as we realize that Love has an opt-out clause after the third year of the deal, should the next three seasons of Love's career resemble anything like his first three seasons with the Timberwolves. Even though the Wolves have made significant progress in Love's fourth season, winning seven of their first 17 games, the team is three games out of the Western playoff bracket and still has quite a lot to do in order to put together the sort of roster that can be counted on for multiple postseason appearances. And before we slam Love for possibly ...