Bill Fitch, the former Gopher and NBA coach, told Sports Headliners that Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love was deserving of being picked among the top five players in the June NBA draft, but local fans will need to be patient with his development.
The 6-10, 250-pound power forward will need “at least two years” to develop, just like other big players when they come into the league, according to Fitch who is now retired and living in New Mexico and Texas. “He’s a project,” Fitch said. “He’s got a lot of growing (improving) to do. What you’re seeing now is just the beginning. …”
Fitch said it’s important for a rookie to join an NBA team where he’s needed and fits the personnel. Love is a match with the Wolves who need another big player to complement center Al Jefferson.
The plan is for Love to help Jefferson with rebounding, plus feed the ball to the 6-10, 265-pound 23-year-old center and ease defensive pressure on him by scoring from the outside. Last season Jefferson scored 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game (fifth best in the NBA) after coming to Minneapolis a year ago in the Kevin Garnett trade with Boston. “I think the kid from Boston is going to be a helluva player,” Fitch said.
Fitch also said Love was probably as well coached in college as anyone coming into this year’s NBA draft. Love is “very coachable” as proven by his willingness to accept instruction throughout his life including from his dad, Stan, a former NBA player.
Fitch would have no part of any comparison between Love and Larry Bird, a player he coached in 1981 when the Celtics won the NBA title. Love has been an outstanding passer, rebounder and scorer in college, three areas that Bird excelled in, too. “I don’t see anybody like Bird,” Fitch said. He believes when healthy and at his best that Bird was as good as any player ever.
Wolves vice presidentKevin McHale, who was also on that 1981 team, has said Minnesota could win another 20 games next season after being 22-60 during the 2007-08 season. Fitch indicated that’s ambitious but he thinks the Wolves have some “good young players” and it’s an asset to be in the Northwest Division, and not in the Southwest where they would face Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio.