Over the weekend, several Eastern Conference general managers told ESPN.com that Minnesota Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale is finally listening to trade offers for Wolves superstar Kevin Garnett.
Any number of teams would want to get involved in the KG sweepstakes, if indeed bidding has opened.
For a couple of years, the Bulls have seemed to be a natural destination for the former Chicago high school star. Bulls GM John Paxson has stockpiled a lot of young talent that could potentially go to Minnesota in a trade.
But the Wolves might have missed their best chance to make a Chicago deal work. With P.J. Brown entering free agency, two things would have to happen for a KG-to-Chicago trade to be possible: (1) the Bulls would need Brown to agree to a sign-and-trade to make the numbers work, and (2) the Wolves would have to pay Brown upward of $10 million next season. If those two conditions are not met, it's very unlikely the Bulls and Wolves will be able to make a KG deal under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.
If KG's not going to Chicago, where could he go? From what I'm hearing -- and at this point it's just a hot rumor -- the Wolves and Boston Celtics are talking about a Garnett deal.
In this scenario, Boston would send Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and change to Minnesota along with the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft. In exchange, the Celtics would get Garnett.
While a six-for-one trade would create some awkward roster dilemmas, it could work for Boston in this case because the Celtics would be giving up only one member of their core: Jefferson. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves would get an emerging low-post star, a wing player with a lot of upside, another high draft pick and future cap flexibility.
On Saturday, I spoke with Celtics vice president Danny Ainge about the rumor, but he would not comment on specific trade discussions. He did say the Celtics were talking with a lot of teams at the moment about a number of different trade scenarios, but that none of them were close to happening.
One could argue that the Celtics would be better off trading Paul Pierce and continuing to create a younger team. But if they are committed to keeping Pierce and trying for more immediate success, the Garnett deal would make sense for the Celtics. A combination of Garnett and Pierce would make the Celtics instant contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Even if the Wolves could come to an agreement with the Celtics (or another team) on which players should be involved in a Garnett deal, there are some logistical and risk issues that might kill such a deal.
For Minnesota, Garnett won't be easy to trade to any team.
Garnett is due to be paid $22 million next season, and he could be owed about $3 million more than that because his trade kicker is 15 percent. That makes the mere act of balancing salaries a challenge in any Garnett trade, given the restrictions of the collective bargaining agreement.
On the other hand, to make a trade work under the CBA, Garnett would be allowed to waive part of his trade kicker, if he so chose.
At the same time, acquiring Garnett would come with plenty of risk for the Celtics or any other team.
Garnett can opt out of his contract at the end of next season, meaning that teams may be reluctant to trade a lot of assets for him, given that he could leave next year.
While the Celtics might be willing to offer Garnett a multiyear extension, they would not be allowed to negotiate with Garnett until after both July 1 and the trade. Therefore Boston would run the risk of making a major play for Garnett, only to watch him walk away after one season in Celtic Green.
And if the Celtics are willing to offer Garnett an extension, how many years and millions should they offer? Garnett is already 31 years old.
Furthermore, with Garnett and Pierce eating most of the team's cap room, Boston's financial flexibility to make moves to the supporting cast would be severely limited.
So even if Garnett were available, and even though the trade proposed above would be a good one for Boston on paper, it's not the no-brainer it might appear to be at first glance.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
Dumb. Period.
KG is an immovable object. When youre a talented, elite player that demands large percentages of a teams cap space, you live with the deal you signed and the team that decided to sign you.
Should any ONE player make this much money? Sure, I guess. But when the team around you collapses, dont cry in your beer when making $20 million dollars a year. Youre untradeable.
That deal makes more sense than any Kobe rumor that's been floated about.
Starting Five for each team...
Boston:
PG West
SG Pierce
SF Szerbiak
PF Garnett
C Perkins
Key Reserves: F Gomes, G Tony Allen, G Rondo
Minnesota:
PG Foye
SG Davis
SF J. Wright (#7)
PF Jefferson
C Blount
Key Reserves: C Hawes (#5), G/F Green, PF Smith, G Telfair/Hudson
IMO, that's not a half-bad trade.
Boston is basically giving up 2 of their better players, 1 role player and a head case for KG - not bad, until the number 5 pick gets thrown in. Garnett is great, but that would still leave Boston with a team that has very little depth - this is a very good trade for Minny, for Boston? ...not so much.
Well if ya can't get Timmy....
It would be hilarious just to see KG paired up with Wally again--didn't KG push to have him shipped off to Boston in the first place?
No way.
Al Jefferson is a stud, with a HUGE upside. He should be considered untouchable for Boston.
Part of it falls on Kevin Garnett. Most of it falls on KEVIN McHALE.
KG is not the one that ed up the whole Joe Smith re-sign for less and take money under the table fiasco that cost the Wolves 3 first round draft picks.
KG is not the one who couldn't feed his family for $7 million so instead didn't make anything.
KG is not the one that traded Sam Cassell AND a first round draft pick for Marko Jaric.
KG is not the one that kept acquiring 6-foot-3 combo guards ... Rashad McCants, Bracey Wright, Mike James, Randy Foye when other positions were obviously in need of attention as well.
There is some blame to go on KG. But, much of it, if not most of it, falls on Kevin McHale and his stupidity.
Wally will get shipped off from Boston too if KG goes to the Celtics.
Very, very fair assessment. But I just have a problem with MAX money guys whining about not winning, or being traded. They are personal representatives of about 20% of a teams total capacity to field a compe ive team.
One bad trade here, one bad draft there and the whole organization is ruined until that contract is up.
See: Minnesota, Los Angeles and Boston (except Boston drafts well, which is easy to do when youre in the lottery every year).
McHale sucks, there is no question. And I am sure he deserves a vast majority of the blame. But moving KG is directly tied to his salary and the fact that he was apart of the "grandfather" generation that can still get the big $$$ contracts.
He got his $$$. Now his FOs missteps are killing his ability to win. Life sucks, Mr Garnett. If your contract was in the "Reality Realm" instead of the ing "Twilight Zone", you wouldnt have this problem.
I don't think it's a bad trade for Boston even with the #5 pick, because it makes it clear that Boston wants to win now.
They would give up Jefferson, but it's more than likely he'll NEVER be as good as KG. They give up Green, but he couldn't crack the lineup in Boston and they have enough G/F to make up for him (Tony Allen, Allan Ray, Szerbiak, Gomes). Telfair was relegated to third string because of West and Rondo. And don't forget Paul Pierce, who is underrated at this point.
Here's the Depth Chart:
PG West/Rondo/filler
SG Pierce/Allen/Ray
SF Szerbiak/Gomes
PF Garnett/Scalabrine/Powe
C Perkins
Keep in mind, they could still go out and sign someone and Garnett could play Center as well. Play KG and Pierce for 40MPG and let the rest sort itself out....
Good point. But, injuries can happen. KG's a warrior, but he's also what, 30? Paul Pierce just had surgery - there's no telling how good he'll be. If Boston pulls the trigger, they're almost definitely a playoff team barring a catastrophic injury - but I don't believe they'll be championship caliber, which, given the C's recent history, might not be too bad.
Maybe the Celtics can trade for Rasho, too?
Boston should do the deal, if not deal Pierce and completely rebuild the team. The C's only really give up Jefferson and Green for KG, the #5 pick isn't gonna be a superstar unless someone here think Yi is better then Yaoi say do it because then at least the east will be entertaining next season.
celtics get raped in that deal.... take jefferson out or the 5..... cant have both
Jefferson and "#5" are not equal....one is a proven youngster with a ton of upside, the other is an unknown quan y. Jefferson is the cornerstone of any deal involving Boston and KG.
You could make a case that Green and "#5" are equivalent, but still....why does Boston want another young guy. I suppose they could keep the #5 and draft an energy guy like Noah, but if you're getting KG back, it doesn't matter what young guys you're giving up...they're not helping you to a le.
POST
OF
THE
YEAR
This rumor is picking up steam as Boston could deal Al Jefferson, the #5 pick, Theo Ratliff and Wally Szcerbiak for Garnett and Troy Hudson.
A good deal for both sides if you ask me. Boston gets substantially better without losing many of their young players, and the Wolves now have two lottery picks this year, a possible stud in Jefferson, and two big contracts in Szczerbiak and Ratliff that will come off the books over the next couple of seasons.
Too bad the negotiations are being done by the two worst GM's in the NBA.
I take Jefferson over Garnett given their ages and salaries.
#5 + cap relief should be the starting point of a KG to Boston trade.
Deal won't get done otherwise.
I take Jefferson + all that other stuff over Garnett, but that's only because I would want to build something for the long-term. Boston has sucked for long enough...they need to prove to their fans that they are serious about contending in a very weak conference. Garnett + Pierce trumps anything else in the east, IMO.
Update from the Boston Herald, updated at 5AM today:
Source: C’s closer to KG deal
By Steve Bulpett
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Thursday, June 21, 2007 - Updated: 04:49 AM EST
The process still is far from complete, but a league source indicated last night the Celtics were moving closer to a deal for Minnesota star Kevin Garnett.
“There’s a good chance nothing happens,” the source cautioned, “but the talks seem to be ongoing. Neither side seems willing to drop this.”
It was further indicated that if such a deal goes down, it would indeed involve both Al Jefferson and the Celtics’ No. 5 overall pick in next week’s draft.
Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge admitted earlier this week to the Herald that he had discussed a deal for Garnett with Timberwolves counterpart Kevin McHale. When reached last night, Ainge said he is not commenting on any trade rumors.
Reacting to the Herald story yesterday in Minneapolis, McHale said any trade talk involving Garnett so far has been just that - talk.
“Who knows what’s going to happen?” McHale said after the Wolves worked out college stars Jeff Green and Al Horford in preparation for next week’s draft. “But we’re not out there actively shopping Kevin Garnett around the NBA. I can tell you that much.”
The Celtics are said to still be mulling over the pros and cons of the deal. A plus is the opportunity to take a giant step in an Eastern Conference race that would appear to be fairly wide open next season. On the downside, the Celtics would be trading away a player nine years Garnett’s junior in Jefferson, who is coming off a breakout season just three years out of high school.
It is not yet known what other pieces would be involved in the deal to make it work financially, but one can assume Theo Ratliff’s expiring contract could be part of the mix.
Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season, meaning the Timberwolves run the risk of losing him without compensation if they don’t trade him before then and he tires of not playing on a compe ive team. That has ramped up speculation that he could be on the move.
A key part of the transaction would be the Celts knowing Garnett wants to make the move.
Garnett, who turned 31 on May 19, is an eight-time All-NBA selection and a 10-time All-Star. He averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for Minnesota last season.
Jefferson, a first-round pick by the C’s in 2004, averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.
In the past, McHale has completely dismissed questions of Garnett’s availability, including after last season when he said emphatically, “We’re not going to trade Kevin Garnett.” Now, McHale is qualifying those remarks.
If you are Boston, at this point, the only thing you DON'T trade to get Garnet is PP...
A combo of PP and KG... I am SALIVATING...
That combo (plus scrubbs) would freggin DOMINATE the East...
...from 1 moronic, ex-celtic, GM to another...
Last edited by jacobdrj; 06-21-2007 at 10:24 AM.
I saw Joe Dumars at Foot Locker today buying 82 pairs of Adidas shoes.
That's a pretty good trade. KG needs a change of scenery. I think Boston would automatically be a championship contender, especially given that they are in the East.
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