Timberwolves open to trading Love
The Minnesota Timberwolves will listen to trade offers for All-Star forward Kevin Love, according to multiple reports.
The team previously was not open to trading Love, but after reports surfaced over the weekend that he does not want a contract extension and will test free agency after next season, the team reportedly has a change of heart.
The Timberwolves are now open to trading Love if the right deal comes along. They are reportedly seeking a high first-round pick in this year’s draft and at least one solid veteran player. The draft lottery is on Tuesday.
Love has not asked to be traded but wants to play for a winning team. The Timberwolves have failed to make the playoffs in each of Love’s first six seasons in the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls are among the teams Love reportedly has the most interest in.
Cowboys’ Jones favors playoff expansion
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Monday he is in favor of expanding the NFL playoffs.
Jones said a rule change “would help my Cowboys” in an interview that aired Monday on “NFL Total Access” on NFL Network.
As NFL owners gather in Atlanta to discuss among other things playoff expansion, the NFL Players Association warned the owners that the players might not go along with the plan.
“The players have not seen a press release from the NFL indicating that they were going to take up the issue of better workers compensation benefits or increased injury protection benefits in light of their desire for extra playoff games,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told USA Today. “A credible commitment to player health and safety has to include more than a group of owners voting to recommend playing more games.”
Newsday reported that when Jones was asked if the NFLPA needs to sign off on expanded playoffs, he answered, “Not to my knowledge.”
Jones also told ESPN that there is broad support for expanding the playoffs.
Canadiens goalie Price out for series
Montreal Canadiens star goaltender Carey Price is out for the remainder of the Eastern Conference Finals, Montreal coach Michel Therrien announced Monday ahead of Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.
Therrien did not disclose the nature of the injury, but Price is suspected to have a right knee injury. During Game 1, Price went down when Rangers forward Chris Kreider crashed into him on a second-period breakaway. Kreider lost his balance and went skates-first into Price.
Habs forward Brandon Prust called out Kredier for “accidentally on purpose” sliding into the goalie. “We’re in the NHL. He should know how to fall,” Prust said.
Price remained down on the ice for several minutes. He got up and stayed in the game but gave up two more goals in the 7-2 blowout before giving way to backup Peter Budaj for the third. Budaj is expected to start Monday. He has only seven career postseason appearances.
Therrien did not announce whether Budaj or third-string goaltender Dustin Tokarski would start.
Abreu placed on disabled list
HOUSTON — White Sox breakout first baseman Jose Abreu had spent the better part of two weeks hobbling on and playing through a sore left ankle before one awkward swing on Saturday night signaled the end of his fortitude.
The White Sox on Sunday placed Abreu on the 15-day disabled list with posterior tibia tendonitis in his left ankle. He flew back to Chicago Sunday morning for further evaluation. Abreu had played in all 44 games with the White Sox, including the last eight as their designated hitter as he attempted to play through an injury that clearly bothered him.
“The more you get medical people involved, the decision was made that he needs to rest,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “You’re trying to do the best thing for him and us and him going out there the way he was Friday, you think it’s getting better and it’s not getting better.
“At this point, we’re going to take a couple steps back and let him heal and get his legs under him.”
Ducks GM Murray signs contract extension
Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him with the organization through 2020, the team announced Monday.
Murray said the negotiations with chief executive officer Michael Schulman and owners Henry and Susan Samueli began around the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Despite Anaheim’s elimination by the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference second round, the organization has positioned itself well in the salary cap era since it won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
“The one major thought, first of all, (is that) my wife and family like it here and we love the ownership,” Murray said in a statement. “And we’ve spent time since the last Cup rebuilding this, basically. So you want to see it through. That had a lot to staying here and going forward that way. I want to see this through and see where we can take this.”
Murray replaced Brian Burke in November 2008, two seasons after Anaheim won the Cup.