Ticketed for elsewhere?
Garnett's future rests on Timberwolves' season
The Timberwolves are off to a 3-3 start after Sunday night's loss at Denver,
which means fans in the Gopher State can't relax just yet. No, Minnesota is not
out of the playoff race. It's just that as long as the T'wolves struggle, those
Kevin Garnett trade whispers are never going to go away.
The idea floating around the league during preseason was that Garnett might
become available if the T'wolves crashed and burned again this season. The
Bulls, Lakers and Mavs are among the teams mentioned as possible destinations.
It is all pure speculation, of course (T'wolves boss Kevin McHale won't even
dignify the possibility with a response), but stranger things have happened.
Why would the T'wolves consider trading a superstar like Garnett? After all,
KG is one of the NBA's best all-around players and the face of the Minnesota
franchise. He is a former MVP (2004). He is a seven-time All-Star. He has won an
Olympic gold medal. Even at age 29, he has shown no signs of slowing down. He
currently is averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
But Garnett also stands to make $84 million over the next four seasons, a high
price for a team spinning its wheels. As great as he has been, the fact is
Garnett has played almost 30,000 minutes over his 11 NBA seasons. He battled
knee problems last year. And with the defending champion Spurs in the West, it
doesn't look as if Garnett and the T'wolves have a realistic chance of winning a
title any day soon.
In addition, speculation has arisen that Garnett might be growing frustrated.
After reaching the Western Conference finals two years ago, the team took a step
backward last season. When the team let go of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell
this summer, opting instead to retool around Marko Jaric and rookie Rashad
McCants, Garnett didn't exactly jump for joy about the changes.
"Whether you put faith in them or not, they do what they want to do," he said
during the preseason when asked about the team's offseason moves. "It's not my
team. [Owner] Glen Taylor and Kevin [McHale] put together a plan and then, for
whatever reason, I guess, try to enforce it. I don't think I'm the person to ask
about that. Ask them."
Faced with such a situation, McHale might be tempted to make a bold move and
try to move Garnett sooner rather than later. Chicago could offer a No. 1 draft
pick in 2006 (they own New York's, which is shaping up as a lottery pick) and a
combination of young stars such as Tyson Chandler, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. The
Mavs could offer Dirk Nowitzki. The Lakers could offer, well, not much other
than Lamar Odom, draft picks and promising rookie center Andrew Bynum. But, hey,
they're the Lakers so they're going to make a pitch.
Obviously, the T'wolves wouldn't be able to get back equal value in any trade
for Garnett. But they might be able to acquire a young up-and-coming star or
two, along with draft picks and greater financial flexibility. It's something
McHale might have to consider -- if not this season, then in the summer of '06.
Especially if his team limps along at .500 the rest of the way.




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raefon01@...
kevin "KG_21" garnett
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