MINNEAPOLIS -- During a weekend trip to Boston, All-Star forward Kevin Love has been taking pictures with fans and seeing the sights, leading Celtics fans to speculate that hes going to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Garnett as the next Minnesota star to come to town and turn around a struggling franchise. Not so fast, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said. "The last I knew Kevin was under contract with us, and I expect him to be playing for us next year," Saunders said Sunday after a workout of draft prospects. "I dont really dictate where guys go on vacation or what they do. They can go wherever they want to go." Love can opt out of his contract after next season, and the three-time All-Star has yet to make the playoffs in six years with the Timberwolves. He was also angered when former executive David Kahn refused to give him a full, five-year extension and instead gave him a four-year deal with a player option after three. Thats led many to believe that he will leave next summer to play for a contender in a bigger market. "Yo (at)kevinlove if you need advice on moving from Minnesota to Boston just let me know .CityOfChamps," tweeted Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who spent six years with the Minnesota Twins before signing with the Red Sox as a free agent and winning three World Series titles. The situation has prompted the Timberwolves to consider a trade to avoid losing Love without compensation. But Saunders has made it clear that he doesnt feel as though he has to make a move this summer. He views Love as one of the top offensive players in the league, a 25-year-old who has improved his game every off-season. So if other teams do want to get their hands on one of the NBAs top power forwards, it wont be easy. "I know theres a feeding frenzy out there from a lot of teams," Saunders said. "Unfortunately, they have no say. I plan on Kevin being here." If Saunders was posturing, he has good reason. The draft isnt until June 26, and the best offers from teams desperate to land Love dont figure to start rolling in until the week of the draft, or perhaps not even until draft night, and Saunders has plenty of options. He could move him right around draft time for what is expected to be a package that includes high picks and a veteran player or two. He could wait for July 1 and look to build a package around more established, veteran talent. Or he could hold on to Love, try to add a few pieces to a team that finished 10th in the West, and hire the right coach to replace the retired Rick Adelman and show Love that the team is headed in the right direction. It worked for the Portland Trail Blazers with LaMarcus Aldridge, and it worked years ago for the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. The Wolves can also pay Love about $26.5 million more than any other team. And if Love still does depart after next summer, the Wolves wont be left empty-handed. Theyll have about $17 million in extra salary cap room to attack the free agent market, though luring stars to a wintry climate to play for a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2004 has always proved to be a challenge. The next big step will be hiring a coach. The Wolves had discussions with Memphis Dave Joerger over Memorial Day weekend, but Joerger stayed with the Grizzlies, who sweetened his contract to remain with the 50-win team. Saunders said he will meet with Wolves owner Glen Taylor this week to evaluate the search, which has been influenced some by the uncertainty surrounding Love. When asked if he would have a coach in place by the June 26 draft, Saunders said "theres probably a better chance that we would than we wouldnt. Were not going to put a time frame on it." As for those excited Celtics fans, Saunders said they should calm down. But he knows they wont. "Theyre the same fans who thought they had Tim Duncan," he joked. "They still think they got Tim Duncan in the draft. Im not really sure, but the last I looked he was playing for San Antonio, Old Man Riverwalk." Custom Seattle Mariners Jerseys . Sizemore, who turned 29 on Jan. 4, has been limited to six games over the past two seasons because of an injured left knee that twice required surgery. He originally got hurt on Feb. 25, 2012, during a fielding drill in Oaklands first full-squad spring training workout and had surgery that March 21 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wholesale Mariners Jerseys . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. https://www.cheapmariners.com/. The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012. Mariners Jerseys China . Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. Mariners Jerseys 2020 . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Kings peppered Ryan Miller with shot after shot. Eventually they started going in. Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll scored in a 53-second span late in the third period and the Kings rallied to top the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Thursday. The Canucks trailed 2-0 after two periods despite giving up just 10 shots but scored three unanswered goals to end a five-game road losing streak. Dwight Kings goal in the second period pulled them within 2-1 and Williams scored on a power play late in the third to tie it. Stoll netted the winner with 1:14 remaining. We battled, I thought we deserved this game, I thought we deserved to win it, Stoll said. Jonathan Quick faced just 16 shots in net for the Kings, who won for just the fourth time in their last 10 (4-3-3). They had been 0-3-2 in their last five on the road after losing in Calgary and Edmonton this week. Alexandre Burrows and Radim Vrbata scored for Vancouver, which had a four-game point streak snapped (3-0-1). Miller made 37 saves. Losing is disappointing but we didnt play the way we needed too, said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins.dddddddddddd For whatever reason we just didnt have our jump. King drew Los Angeles within 2-1 when he buried his own rebound past Miller with 5:21 left in the second. Williams scored at 17:53 in the third, beating Miller to the short side with a high wrist shot from the right circle and Stoll scored from the left circle off Tanner Pearsons cross-ice pass. The Canucks totaled just 10 shots in the first two periods -- including two in the second -- but took a 2-0 lead on goals by Burrows and Vrbata. Burrows sent the puck through Quicks legs from in front of the crease 12:18 into the game on a power play after Vrbatas shot from the high left side hit off Daniel Sedin. Vrbata scored his 15th goal of the season 3:39 into the second period after Chris Higgins pass from below the right circle was deflected to him in the slot. Game Notes Burrows scored on Vancouvers only power play ... Los Angeles was 1-for-4 on the man advantage ... The Kings host Nashville on Saturday to start a seven- game homestand. ' ' '