Love to stay put

Timberwolves all-star Kevin Love, facing the prospect of becoming a restricted free agent after the season, is expected to sign a four-year, $62 million contract extension today, according to a person with close knowledge of the situation.

Love, 23, is in Dallas with the Wolves (7-10) for tonight’s game against the Mavericks. NBA teams have until 11 p.m. CST tonight to sign contract extensions with players selected in the 2008 draft.

Love, the No. 5 overall pick in 2008, will be the third player in that draft to sign an extension before the deadline. Chicago guard Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in 2008, signed a five-year extension three weeks ago worth a reported $95 million. Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, the No. 4 pick, agreed last week to a five-year deal for a reported $78 million to $80 million.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn and team lawyers accompanied the team to Dallas on Tuesday afternoon to complete paperwork on the contract, the source said. The contract must be signed by all parties and submitted to the league office before the deadline to make the deal official.

Before the team left for Dallas, Wolves coach Rick Adelman was hopeful a deal would be reached so Love “can go out and just play.”

“It will help Kevin to have all this over with,” Adelman said. “It has to be wearing on him. He’s really been doing a good job of staying focused.”

Love, who is earning $4.6 million this season, had a season-high 39 points and 12 rebounds in the Wolves’ loss to Houston on Monday night at Target Center. The fourth-year veteran is averaging 24.9 points and 13.9 rebounds and leads the NBA with 16 double-doubles.

Love declined to talk with reporters after Tuesday’s practice. After Monday’s shootaround practice, he showed signs of mild frustration while talking with reporters. With a basketball in his right hand, he pointed to it as he emphasized to reporters that he “only wanted to talk about basketball.”

Love had made several references last week that he preferred to get the extension done before the deadline to keep his contract situation from lingering the rest of the season.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor and Love’s agent Jeff Schwartz had been discussing a five-year extension worth $80 million, the maximum contract allowed under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, but Taylor rejected that proposal. Taylor’s preference for a four-year deal for Love could help the club offer long-term commitments to rookies Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams.

Had Love and the Wolves not agreed to an extension, he would have become a restricted free agent after the season, but the Wolves would have had the right to match any offer.

Another option for Love would have been to play out his contract with the Wolves, earning $6.1 million in 2012-13, and become an unrestricted free agent, putting himself on the market as LeBron James did in 2010 and evaluate the best offers.

“This organization needs Kevin…and just about every organization wants him,” Wolves forward Michael Beasley said of Love after Tuesday’s practice. “He’ll be straight, whether he signs it tomorrow or goes into free agency. He’s mentally tough. He’ll always go out and give it what he’s got.”

Beasley making progress

Beasley, recovering from a right midfoot sprain, practiced with the team Tuesday for the first time since he was injured Jan. 6 against Cleveland.

Beasley said he had no pain in his foot and was encouraged by the workout.

“I pretty much did everything we were doing today except rebound,” he said. “We didn’t have to rebound much because we were doing a lot of drills.”

Beasley did not make the trip to Dallas. He has missed the past 10 games.

Injury update

The Wolves, who had only nine players available for Monday’s game against Houston, hope to have 10 if Wes Johnson has recovered from flu symptons.

Johnson missed Monday’s game but traveled with the team to Dallas. Adelman said he won’t know until later today if Johnson, who grew up in the Dallas area, will play tonight.

Adelman said Luke Ridnour (sore knee) and Darko Milicic (hip) did not practice Tuesday but are expected to play.

Guard J.J. Barea (hamstring) will not play but traveled with the team to participate in the Mavericks’ pregame ring ceremony. Barea will join Mavericks players to receive their rings for winning last season’s NBA championship.

Follow Ray Richardson at twitter.com/twolvesnow.