NBA Rumors: Timberwolves Want Kevin Garnett
The Minnesota Timberwolves are pushing for a trade to get Kevin Garnett back, Marc Stein with ESPN reported. The trade would bring Thaddeus Young to Brooklyn.
According to the sources, both teams have been engaged in serious talks about a potential trade, which would have to occur before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. Sources with the Wolves stated that the team wants Garnett to finish his career with the team that he started with. Garnett was drafted out of high school in 1995 by longtime coach Flip Saunders. Garnett played for the Timberwolves for 12 seasons before he was trade to the Boston Celtics in 2007.
A trade could only occur if Garnett, who has a full no-trade clause in his contract, agrees to the terms. Over the past few weeks, Garnett has stated that he has no desire to change teams midseason. The Timberwolves hope that Garnett's relationship with Saunders will make him reconsider.
"I haven't thought too much of my own personal [situation]," Garnett recently said to Nets beat writers. "When that road comes, I'll cross it and I'll deal with it. A lot of things with [my] family situation and things, it's not just convenient to get up and move, to change things. It's not as convenient as it once was when I was younger. I have a lot more responsibilities and things to take into account."
If Garnett, 38, chooses to go to the Timberwolves, he can become a mentor to the team's young players, especially Andrew Wiggins.
James Herbert with CBSSports wrote:
"Garnett is the kind of guy who makes practices more intense. He has plenty of stories to tell. Saunders probably thinks he can help establish the culture going forward, even if he's around for fewer than 30 games. If this happens and then he retires, Wiggins will still hear Garnett's voice in his head next season when he makes mistakes. The team has the worst defensive rating in the league, and Garnett would at least try to instill some sense of pride on that end of the floor."
Many people around the league, however, expect Garnett to stay put in Brooklyn.
