1
Oregon native and Olympian Kevin Love says he is getting fed up with the Minnesota Timberwolves not making the NBA playoffs. He is the only member of the Team USA roster who has never played in a playoff game.
The Timberwolves have not make the playoffs since 2004, a string of eight seasons.
“It’s tough seeing all these guys that are young and older who have all played in the playoffs,” Love said from Las Vegas. “When they start talking about it, I have nothing to talk about. If I don’t make the playoffs next year, I don’t know what will happen.”
Love begins a four-year, $62 million contract extension this season, but the deal allows him to opt out after three years.
2
The Pittsburgh Pirates, a perennial National League doormat, are in first place in the Central division and looking for their first winning season in two decades.
A team that’s always been a seller in the second half of the season is now a buyer. The Pirates have had preliminary trade discussions about San Diego’s Carlos Quentin and Arizona’s Justin Upton.
The Pirates rank 12th in the NL in runs scores and lack a true cleanup hitter to bat behind All-Star Andrew McCutchen.
San Diego and Arizona scouts have been taking a look at Pittsburgh’s minor-league affiliates in recent days to identify prospects they would want in a trade.
3
Kurt Warner, the four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl MVP, says he thinks Matt Flynn will win the Seahawks three-way quarterback competition.
Warner was on the radio in Seattle last week.
The NFC West is a division where the team with the best quarterback play tends to win the division, he said.
“My opinion, I think Matt Flynn will be the starter Day 1,” Warner said. “Tavaris Jackson, I just really believe that they’re going to look at this and say, ‘Well, he had his chance. He had his chance to start.’ “
