Good players help their teams win more games.
There's a big reason the Minnesota Timberwolves had a losing record (yet again) and missed the playoffs (yet again) and a lot of that responsibility falls on their best player, Kevin Love. Minnesota was HORRIBLE in close games, and a lot of that was because their best player can't create his own shot and doesn't have a single, reliable go to move. He can be guarded straight up and doesn't require a double team. Go to 82games.com and look at Love's Clutch Statistics. The Wolves were -25.3 points/48 in clutch situations with Love on the floor. That's beyond pathetic.
Yes, he puts up huge individual stats - in losses and the first three quarters of most games. With the game on the line, Love sucks. And, that's why he'll never be the number one option on a good team (or even one with a winning record). He's a stat padding role player masquerading as a franchise player. He'd be a solid number 2 option on a playoff team, or a great number 3 option on a contender. But, if he's even going to make the playoffs, he NEEDS a teammate that can be the go to guy with the game on the line, because he's not, and never will be, that kind of player.
He's going to get a max contract, and unless he's the final piece, not the center piece, that puts a team over the top, that team will regret it for the length of his contract.
BNM