"I've had more experience with these things," Taylor said Thursday. "I feel that I don't have to talk as much, and I feel more confident in our position. We stated right up front what our position (with Love) was, where in the other one (Garnett), it probably took a lot longer - a lot more communications, a lot more back and forth. To me, this one was a lot more businesslike. Even though the (discussions about) length went on, I didn't feel it was contentious or anything like that."
Love's agent wanted five years; the Wolves held firm on four. The Garnett contract negotiation was much tougher.
"Because we were talking about the tax phase and all that stuff, so it really cost us a lot of money," Taylor said.
Love's $62 million still is a lot of money. Taylor, who had Wolves President
David Kahn negotiate the Love deal, was asked if he enjoys working on player contracts.
"It isn't what I call fun because it's a big, important matter," he said. "I want to get (Love), and I want to make sure we don't make mistakes. And it's always a possibility that you could say something wrong and hurt feelings and stuff."
Love's agent,
Jeff Schwartz, asked that Taylor and Kahn work solely through him and not involve Love in negotiations. "And David (Kahn) honored that," Taylor said. "The first time I talked to Kevin was yesterday, before he signed the contract. But he had already agreed to it."
Taylor congratulated Love on Wednesday and explained that Schwartz had asked him not to directly negotiate with him. "I told Kevin I had honored that," Taylor said.
In coming days, Taylor and Love will meet to chat about the future and how the Wolves can continue improving. Love told Taylor he looks forward to that.
Taylor said he was "really pleased" with the Love signing. "This is a good deal for us and for Kevin," Taylor said. "It leaves us some flexibility so that we have the possibility of signing some other guys in the future, which we're going to have to do. And we can come back to Kevin in a few years and extend him."
The Oklahoma City Thunder recently signed star guard
Russell Westbrook to an $80 million, five-year NBA-maximum contract. Westbrook came out of the same 2008 draft as Love, who also was eligible for a five-year deal worth approximately the same.
"The reason we weren't going to go there is that the difference between us and Oklahoma is, Oklahoma is winning and actually thought of as a team that could get into the (NBA Finals)," Taylor said. "They're established. We're still a team, though getting better, that I don't know if I've got all of the right guys yet. I don't know how well some of the other guys are going to develop.
"So I think I need more flexibility to make sure that we get there. What I said to (Schwartz) is, quite frankly, 'You guys can get your money. I'm willing to not wait until the end of the (current) contract to extend Kevin out again."
In return, Schwartz wanted Love to be able to opt out of the new contract after three years. Taylor agreed. He said he isn't too worried about losing Love then. "We could always offer him the best contract going ahead, sign him for another four years," Taylor said.
That flexibility could allow the Wolves to sign current rookies
Ricky Rubio and
Derrick Williams to new contracts when they become eligible.
"Or to go out and get another guy," Taylor said. "I'm looking out for what's best for the team."
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