For the first time ever, Kevin Garnett (or at least his agent) has spoken up about where he'd like to end up. Although the exact location hasn't been determined yet, he certainly won't be ending up in Boston. Here's what Garnett's agent Andy Miller told ESPN.com about the potential Boston trade: "The Boston trade isn't happening. If a trade were to happen, that's not a destination that we're interested in pursuing."As well, sources have told ESPN's Marc Stein that Garnett wants to move to a warm-weather city and a team that can claim legitimate championship potential.
Phoenix is obviously Garnett's number one destination. However, there are only two possible deals that the Suns could make with the Wolves to bring Garnett. One would be a package of Shawn Marion, Leandro Barbosa, and/or Atlanta's 2008 pick. The other would be Garnett for Amare Stoudemire and trade filler.
The problem with first deal is that Marion holds an opt out after next season, and will certainly use it if he is shipped to an undesirable location. If Marion were to opt out and leave the Wolves, they would have basically traded Garnett for Barbosa and a first rounder.
The second scenario isn't likely either, because it would mean giving up a 24 year old Amare Stoudemire for an aging KG. In the short term, a line up of KG, Nash and Marion is certainly a better line up than Amare, Marion and Nash (Especially for matching up against Duncan and the Spurs). However, I just don't see the Suns giving up their future for a better chance at the title right now.
That basically leaves the rest of the warm weather cities with a chance to capture KG. Let's run down possible warm weather locations for KG to land.
Miami: They play in the weaker Eastern Conference, but outside of Wade or Shaq, they don't have the pieces to make a move for KG. I'm sure Miami would welcome a Shaq for KG deal, but I don't think the Wolves or Shaq would go for it. Shaq would probably chose retirement over having to relocate to Minnesota.
Orlando: The only piece they have that could possibly secure KG is Dwight Howard, and that ain't happening.
San Antonio: Warm weather, yes, but unless Tim Duncan or Tony Parker are a part of the deal, the Spurs don't have the players or the contracts to make a deal work. And why would the Spurs want to shake things up when they already have a great team, and are set salary cap wise for years to come?
Dallas: The problem here is that Josh Howard will be a base year compensation player this year, making it hard to base any deal around him. A Nowtizki for KG deal would work, but I don't think Dallas wants to do that.
Houston: I suppose they could give up T-Mac for KG, but I think they're fine with their Guard/Center combo of Yao and McGrady. As well (as The Painted Area mentioned today), I can't wait to see how that combo works under the offensive guidance of Rick Adelman.
Golden State: If Minnesota wants Baron Davis and/or Jason Richardson's contract, then I guess so. But just remember that Baron holds an opt after next season, making any trade with Baron Davis involved highly unlikely.
Sacramento: They just don't have any desirable pieces at this point in time.
LA Clippers: They could pull a KG for Brand deal. I could see the Clippers willing to do that, just because KG is more box office than Brand. However, even with KG, I don't think the Clippers would be a championship contender. KG would probably veto a deal to the Clippers.
LA Lakers: Here we go again. Back to the place the KG rumors all started. In Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown (expiring contract for salary matching purposes), the Lakers have the pieces to get a deal done. KG coming to L.A. would be just the thing to get Kobe Bryant to want to say on board. A tandem of the Big Ticket and the Black Mamba would be as deadly as any in the league. The only combo that could possibly step to that is Wade and Shaq (when Shaq is healthy and in Shape). With Kobe and KG, the Lakers could pretty much fill up their team with washed up vets (Miami Heat style) and be good enough to compete for a title.
Someone that cares about the Lakers and has clout needs to figure out a way to get Kobe, KG, Glen Taylor, and Jerry Buss in a room and make a Kobe/Garnett combination happen. And wouldn't it be typical L.A. to have all of the Kobe drama turn out alright at the end of the day?
Anyhow, of course for the Lakers scenario to work out, Phoenix has to refuse to part with Amare and KG has to be serious about his refusal to go to a cold weather team. Because as we all know, Chicago has the pieces to make a deal for KG work. However, if he didn't want to go to Boston, why would he want to go to Chicago? After all, a Pierce/KG combination in the east would have been deadly out east. And Chicago has just as bad, if not worse winters than Boston. As well (similar to a Kobe to the Bulls scenario), after Chicago guts their team to acquire Garnett, what they'll be left with probably won't be good enough to get them to a final.
I guess we'll just have to wait to see how this entire thing plays out. With this year's deep and talented draft class and both Kobe and Garnett unhappy, this is bound to be an off-season to remember.
Previously at Fanhouse:
The Latest Garnett/Boston Update
Kevin Garnett Reportedly Available
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-22-2007 @ 7:05PM
Anthony said...
KG should go to the Mavericks, I personally would trade Josh Howard, Jason Terry, And Disagna Diop to get KG on the frontline with Dirk. Plus it's not like trading him to Dallas is going to put a different team in the western conference as a powerhouse. Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix are all likely to be the best teams in the conference yet again. With the addition of the 3 players Minnesota would get they would get scoring and defense to help a very young and talented team.
Reply
6-22-2007 @ 7:33PM
mario said...
Garnett isn't going to the mavs. If the wolves want stoudemire from the suns, than they will want Dirk not howard and terry.
Reply
6-22-2007 @ 10:53PM
basketball picks said...
I will never understand the obession with KG. This guy is not a winner. Like the article points out, why would Phoenix entertain the offer for Amare, he is younger and more athletic.
Reply
6-22-2007 @ 11:16PM
JR said...
Sorry Nate, hell with freeze over before McHale, a former Celtic, trades KG to the Lakers. Won't happen. Plus L.A. doesn't have the draft picks to make it worthwhile. Minnesota is doing this to rebuild - they're likely looking for a top 10 draft pick in this years draft and a young stud. Kwame, Odom and Bynum? Why don't the Lakers just trade crying Kobe to Minnesota for Troy Hudson, Ricky Davis and Marco Jaric? That's about what your offering with those three. Bynum is no stud. Don't believe me? Just ask Kobe. Phoenix at least has the Atlanta pick in '08 and two low #1's this year. THAT is trade bait. Plus they have three young studs in Amare, Diaw and Barbosa. Your Laker pipe dream won't happen. Frankly, I'm sick of having to respond to these one-sided trade proposals that do nothing for Minnesota. Please think about things from the Wolves perspective before you write next time.
Reply
6-23-2007 @ 1:00AM
MihajloMoncilovich said...
Due to Garnett's HUGE contract, a trade is highly unlikely. With his trade kicker it would cost a team $25 million next year against their cap. That is just too much for any team that fits Garnett's criteria. Kobe and Garnett = $45 million for only two players! Phoenix has the same problem, IF they could find a third team that Marion would agree too, (he doesn't want the Wolves or Celtics)throw in Kurt Thomas to make the salaries work and the Suns are still at least $10 million into luxurt tax area with a bench that still needs to be filled. The best thing about the Pistons and Spurs were that they have championship caliber teams without one or two players that demanded nearly all of their teams slary space. I just don't understand why a player think he is worth $15-$20 millionm a year, have they ever heard of E.F. Hutton?
Reply
6-24-2007 @ 11:26AM
Larry said...
Any trade that involves Phoenix and Minnesota for KG will include Marion and not Barbosa. James Jones, Kurt Thomas, or Diaw are more likely. Phoenix is not going to trade their two quickest players for an aging star, whch makes their run and gun obsolete. They don't want a total makeover. I really don't see any of this happening. It is more likely Marion will go to Memphis for Gasol to be reunited with Coach Ivaroni. That is if Memphis still wants to deal Gasol as they had originally figured. If they had recieved the number one pick and got Oden, Gasol would go for sure. Who knows if Gasol is still on the block now. If so Marion makes about 3 million more than Gasol this year who is 5 years younger than Garnett. Memphis could throw in Damon Stoudemire and Phoenix one of their late first round choices to make it work. The Suns get an inside presence to help Amare', a back up for Nash and Marion can be "the man" he wants to be with the "Grizz" and gets reunited with Ivaroni. I think it is more probable not to happen, but it could.
Reply
6-25-2007 @ 7:28PM
Evan said...
Everyone who is doubting Garnetts passion and intensity and calling him a loser needs to leave the game of basketball alone. i gaurantee every GM in the NBA is or has been calling Mchale trying to get Garnett into their city. The best scenario that I can see happening is Garnett for Dirk. Nowitzky has costed the Mavericks championships the guy has had the supporting cast every year, but yet he still shows his teammates up on the floor and disgraces his coach with his play. If theres a loser in the NBA its Dirk not KG.
Reply
6-26-2007 @ 5:36PM
f199er said...
This trade cannot happen for several reasons:
1. Stoudemire for Garnett is ludicrous. Not that Garnett is not good, but Stoudemire is only coming too - and coming to big - as well as molding into the franchises' obvious superstar. Plus Garnett is 31, whereas Amare is 24 (25 this November). I don't know, but if you were to guess as to who has more runs left in him, then a hmm...?
2. Garnett for Marion, one of the emerging bench players (excluding Barbosa), and 2008's Atlanta draft pick is ludicrous too, and this time from Minnesota's perspective. You'd basically be opting for Marion who will most definitely opt out of his contract the following season (ain't no way Marion 'll play for Minnesota more than his contract will allow), 3 sketchy characters in Diaw, Thomas, and Jones (the Suns might throw in Banks if they can - but McHale would have to truly be an idiot for that to happen...) and a 2008 draft pick in the first round (granted sure, but, one that may not necessarily fall in high enough for the Wolves to draft real impacting talent the following season).
3. As far as it goes for the Lakers-Timberwolves trade, I'm just laughing my ass off at this one. Bynum is shit (this one's clear-cut), Kwame Brown has the potential to be great both offensively and defensively (he def could've been one of the great PF's of our generation - then again I was born in 88 so I'll wait a couple more years for that guy) but he's too inconsistent. He'll give you 20 and 14 one night (points and rebounds respectively), maybe even 3 blocks to boot, and then he'll go cold the next time you see him come round. With Lamar Odom, it's a little bit of both, he definitely gives you the points (and rebounds - what is he 3rd or 4th in the league), but his inconsistency (and his injury-prone self) have caused him to just not be the superstar he could have been.
My theory, the Wolves will not trade Garnett, he's just too much of a commodity. There's a chance he could opt out of his contract next season, but he's never done it before, and with a solid pick in this year's draft, Garnett may see postseason results just yet.
Reply