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Bye Amare
Wolves-Celtics trade talk? Garnett says forget it
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)
The proposed trade that would have sent Kevin Garnett to Boston, agreed to in principle by ex-teammates Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge, was taken off the table Thursday after Garnett got word to the Celtics that he doesn't want to play for them.
Garnett, according to sources close to the situation, is hoping for a trade to the Phoenix Suns if he has to leave the only team he has ever played for.
"The Boston trade isn't happening," Garnett's agent, Andy Miller, told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. "If a trade were to happen, that's not a destination that we're interested in pursuing."
It appears that Wolves management -- McHale and owner Glen Taylor -- is prepared for the first time to make a deal that would end the Garnett Era in Minneapolis after 12 seasons. Taylor, according to Wolves sources, has informed Garnett directly of that change in philosophy.
But Garnett will have a stronger-than-usual say in the destination if he is indeed moved before next season because of the ability to opt of his contract in the summer of 2008 and become a free agent just over a year from now if he forfeits his $23 million salary in 2008-09.
Without at least a strong indication that Garnett would be willing to sign an extension with the Celtics, Ainge would be parting with virtually every enticing trade chip Boston has for what amounts to a one-year rental.
Which pieces? The latest incarnation of the deal, according to sources, would have required the Celtics to send blossoming forward Al Jefferson, its No. 5 overall pick in next Thursday's draft and Theo Ratliff's cap-friendly contract in addition to Wolves alumnus Wally Szczerbiak and troubled guard Sebastian Telfair in exchange for Garnett and Wolves guard Troy Hudson.
"This would be a major trade that would affect a franchise and those in the organization, so you better be sure [he wants to be there long term]," said Miller, who informed the Wolves and Celtics late Wednesday that his client he had no interest in playing for Boston.
Garnett rejected the move even though it would put him in the easier-to-conquer Eastern Conference and even though he is said to be friendly with Celtics star Paul Pierce.
Garnett has said for years that he doesn't want to leave his beloved "Sota" and has consistently refused to push for a trade.
Yet he is bracing for a trade now, after hearing of Taylor's new stance, which is said to have only increased his growing frustration with Taylor and McHale.
And Garnett, sources say, wants to move to a warm-weather city and a team that can claim legitimate championship potential.
All of which should help explain why the Suns are No. 1 on his list.
Another big factor: Garnett and Suns guard Steve Nash, sources say, have become good friends over the past few years, starting in 2005 when Garnett was one of the first players in the league to call Nash and congratulate him on his first MVP trophy.
The Wolves and Suns have also discussed a Garnett trade. The Wolves, though, naturally want to trade Garnett out of their conference if they can.
If it has to deal with the Suns -- given the strong possibility Garnett won't sanction a move elsewhere -- Minnesota is expected to demand that Phoenix part with Amare Stoudemire in the exchange, as well as a first-round pick from Atlanta in the 2008 draft that is fully unprotected.
It's considered unlikely that a Suns package built around Shawn Marion and that draft pick would be enough to pry Garnett away. Complicating matters further, Marion also has the right to become a free agent after the 2007-08 season and has also let it be known that he doesn't want to play in Minnesota or Boston, sources say. That stance quickly killed the possibility of a three-way deal involving Minnesota, Phoenix and Boston.
The Suns, meanwhile, are understandably hesitant to part with Stoudemire and have tried unsuccessfully to strike a deal without giving him up. Even though Garnett would certainly help Phoenix in the short term by supplying an instant boost of veteran savvy, while also likely improving team chemistry and addressing their biggest weakness -- matching up with San Antonio's Tim Duncan -- Stoudemire is only 24 and would appear to have limitless potential after making the most high-flying comeback from microfracture knee surgery that the league has ever seen.
Although Miller declined to specify a team when asked where Garnett would prefer to be dealt -- "Too early," he said -- it's believed that Phoenix will increase its efforts between now and Thursday's draft to assembling a Stoudemire-less package to satisfy Minnesota's requirements, perhaps by pulling in another team or two.
Or perhaps they'll reverse course and surrender Stoudemire, which would finally lead to a real Garnett deal after ceaseless KG trade speculation over the past several years.Garnett has "a good handle on the possibility of being traded," Miller said. "Kevin is an extremely loyal person, and loyalty is not a common factor among pro athletes, but in this situation he understands he has to put his long-term considerations ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves' long-term considerations."
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Bye Amare
amare and barbosa for garnett sounds good.
if phx gets KG... its game over for the rest of the west
Depends on what they would have to give up but they would be real tough to beat. That would make the West even better.
It depends on who they lose
bull
duncan kg cancel each other out
barbosa is shut down by tp
tp scores more then nash
marion or amare are gone with trade
manu >bell
diaw is the x factor for suns
spurs bench might determine outcome
Phx is better off not having Garnett.
KG is one player that Skip Bayless is actually right about.
suns have done nothing with nash,matrix and amare,diaw
how can you say they would be better without him?
kg>amare or kg is >marion
if kg and nash are on the same team.... its game over for the rest of the league!
KG is a defensive upgrade from Amare. That's where the difference lies. The problem is that they still would have D'Antoni, so i don't know how much of KG's team-defense skills would be employed.
and what has KG done is his amazing career?
the Suns have done plenty, not only WCF apperances but they have been working and playing together for 3 years now. That is a lot of chemisty.
If Amare is involved in the trade...
SAY NO TO KG.
D'Antoni's the real problem with the S0ns. That moron doesn't know about defense. Mikey's the Flip Saunders of the western conference. Great for the regular season but can't do jack in the playoffs.
Nash would boost KG's ppg by at least 7.
chemistry
coach says their is more chemistry problems then they liked to admit
amare is SICK OF nash getting all the credit
has no iq
does not show up like he is suppose to
is a loner on the team
I hate the suns but to me it is a no brainer
and amare's knees are bad
YOU either trade for someone like kg
or trade nash and get youth for him
You want to win now
amare still has another year atleast to get to superstar status
no suns fast pace might not nash
If Diaw isn't in a KG trade, how do Suns fans feel about this rumor from ESPN:
Maggette and '07 #14 for Diaw, '07 #24 & #29, and '08 First Round pick
Amare has already had major knee surgeries at a young age--microfracture surgeries (as opposed to soft tissue tears), with his size and this history he will not have longevity in this league. He also has the IQ of a baby
If I'm Phoenix I pull the trigger.
I agree somewhat
Kg does not want the ball late
but nash would ok with that
I am not sure what is taking kerr so long
he is a new gm he wants to put his stamp on the team
marion has basically said no to wolves (rumored)
it has to be amare
If the T-volves get Amare and Barbosa will defenelty benefit in the long run.
I wouldn´t give up Amare for no one in the league,even Shaq.
Amare is too young to keep learning and getting better.
I say the Volves would do that trade in a heartbeat.
KG's been to the WCF, the Suns have been to the WCF, whats the difference
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