I am just one person, but people in the forum know I care about this team. And honestly, if KG's goal is to get a ring, it may not be here. The question is will we have another scenario similar to a couple of years ago? The fact of the matter is this, WOLVES MANAGEMENT IS TO BLAME. This may not be earth-shattering news, but think about this: T.V. analyst agreed with my scenario that KG may be a superior talent, but it doesn't look like he can lead the team. He is the fire and intensity, but needs a floor general to lead the fight. We had that in Cassell. Sammy could change the game by himself. He was injured last season......many believed he tanked it since he didn't feel he was getting what he felt he deserved......there have also been reports that everywhere he went, after he left players felt he wasn't the greatest to deal with. Some people think "He wants all this money for so long....I don't know". Well, look at what we now have multiple years worth of money in. 6 players are signed through 2009-2010 season. I like consistency and knowing who my teammates are so we can learn each others game. I don't think the Wolves are playoff bound (or another early exit), but the question is how long will KG stay while this new team figures it out? We could've still did the Wally trade with Cassell at the helm. 1/2 a Cassell is the equivalent of Jaric. The only perk we have right now is we have the best "situational" set up for defending the point. We have speed/drive (Banks), speed/shot (Hudson, and yes I do cringe every time he touches the ball), defense of smaller guards (Carter), and larger points (Jaric). That's not alot to put your faith into if the coaching staff can't figure out basics (Reed gets too much time). Reed and Madsen are similar to me...except Madsen is successful at what he does. They are both energy guys, but 1 is energetic in rebounding - taking charges - harrassing the offense, more intangibles (Madsen), and the other tries to be energetic on the defensive and offensive end as in scoring and blocking shots, in which he ends up in foul trouble and having his shot blocked. Furthermore taking himself out of games. Casey's attempt to play Celtics-T'Wolves ball made sense.....for like the first 2 games. After they took out their aggressions on the Celts, he should have made it known that this is one team instead of half-and-half. Casey's decision making is suspect when there are times that he keeps going to some players when others have shown they had the hot hand. KG was like 12-13, yet didn't touch the ball in the last 4 mins. I think KG needs to take his career in his hands and think of it this way "I like to help others. I like to get assist. When it's all said-and-done, when I decide to retire, will I say I got a helluva lot assist and played the team game while I sit next to Charles and Karl or do I need to take the reigns and tell them to give me the ball cuz I'm just that damn good." It's his career to let pass or take over. There are alot of ideas here, some about the recent additions, some about management. But like the title states. I'm just being honest in my venting that there are faults on both sides, but one has been constant, and that's the T'Wolves MGMT. They had a winning formula that wasn't as spectacular the next season. You tweak Spree, pay Sam, and your looking at a different outlook.
I hope I don't have to make this same post for Kobe Bryant in the next couple of seasons. I feel your pain, because I've always admired KG's game and sacrifices he's made for the TWolves. He's gotten a raw deal because of mis-management, and he's only really had one season to win with the right group of players. That one season the TWolves went to WCF and if it wasn't for the Laker Dream Team, they might have beaten the Pistons in the Finals. Here's the dilemma which, could prevent itself in the next summer or two for the Timberwolves. KG has started voicing his concerns to the media, something he's never done before. He's also made a few slips referring to opting out. It's finally been made public, Kevin Garnett has an ETO in his contract. No one new what year it was for, but it's been revealed summer of2008, KG can opted out of his contract. It will cost him $24Million dollars, but money might not mean much at that point in his career. So with the concern of KG leaving teams could actually lowball Minnesota in the next couple of seasons. This also gives KG some power to dictate where he wants to go. No one is going to trade for him if he threatens to opt out after 1 season. The longer the TWolves wait, the lower KG's trade value decreases. Not only because of the ETO, but also his age and concern over his knees. If you look at the current make up of this roster, you definitely don't see any chance for them to compete for a championship. The talent just isn't there, and the redundancy in the lineup really sticks out. Without any cap flexibility, this is going to be the TWolves roster for the next 3 seasons. They won't get much for any of their overpaid role players, and if they do it's likely going to be younger players. I don't think they can afford to rebuild with KG as the centerpiece anymore. He's simply too, old and I don't think he'll stick around to go through that again. I think the TWolves have to unload him this summer, along with some of their overpaid players and then stockpile draft picks and young talent. The goal should be to start over and hopefully get lucky in 2007 by landing Greg Oden.
The Wolves have to in my opinon start over they reached the max at WCF against the Lakers. They have to let KG go, that's the only way to rebuild. They have to get younger and wait for draft prospects. The management sucks, if they don't trade him he'll opt out and the Wolves will get nothing for him. So, they better make some moves towards their older players. Don't expecto to see KG in a Wolves jersey longer than 2 years. P.S. How long have the Wolves been wearing those same jerseys?
If you trade KG, do you go to rock bottom to rebuild or try to find (via the trade) another guy to keep you a playoff team?
Keep them a playoff team? They haven't been a playoff team for two years. I dont care about the Wolves, they dont deserve it. I care about KG, I want to see him succeed, meet his full potential. The Wolves can hit rock bottom and have to close down for all I care, thats just what they deserve after all the screwing around they've done. They've screwed around all while having a player who has the potential to be on of the greatest of all-time, and flushed most of his career down the toilet.
My point was about whether you try to maintain the middling position you currently are in, or do you take the feel and rebuild properly.
I am not a Timberwolves fan, but a KG fan, and being as we are from the same city, this could be a two fold idea. It makes sense, I believe it works under the CBA, so Minny fans, chew on this possible trade for a moment and tell me what you think, keeping in mind, it benefits both teams, allows the Wolves to rebuild AND still compete for the playoffs all by next season. It goes as follows............(p.s. I posted this idea in the Rumor Mill aswell) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">GO AFTER KEVIN GARNETT! The Bulls can package Ben Gordon, Tim Thomas, and their first round draft pick from the Knicks trade (which is looking to be a Top 5 right now) for KG. Minnesota will get cap room because Thomas comes off the books this summer, they get a young stud in Gordon, and will have 2 lottery picks in '06. One, a top 5, which they could go after a big man like LaMarcus Aldridge. Go grab another big man late lottery, like say, Josh Boone or Hilton Armstrong. Or a wing, like Rodney Carney. Now Minnesota can also be a player in free agency, say, go after Peja for example and Minnesota puts out a roster like this..... PG-Marco Jaric/Marcus Banks SG-Ricky Davis/Ben Gordon/Rashad McCants SF-Peja/Trenton Hassell PF-LaMarcus Aldridge/Josh Boone C-Eddie Griffin/Mark Blount Now Chicago can use it's draft pick on a bigger 2 guard, an outside shooter to blend with KG.(JJ Redick should be there. Also Rudy Fernandez or Maurice Ager. Now the Bulls can toss out like this...... PG-Kirk Hinrich/Chris Duhon SG-JJ Redick/Janero Pargo SF-Luol Deng/Andres Nocioni PF-Kevin Garnett/Darius Songaila C-Tyson Chandler/Othella Harrington</div> Now this follows rumors that have been rumbled for some time. The Bulls are shopping Gordon, KG has said in the past he'd love to come home, (what athlete doesnt) and the Wolves get young AND maintain a playoff caliber team all in one summer. KG has unselfish players with desire and fire around him (Hinrich, Redick, Deng) and he has the defense to back up aswell (Chandler, Nocioni). In the East, that's a dangerous starting 5 and a solid backcourt. KG is surrounded with shooters (Hinrich, Redick, Pargo) slashers (Deng, Nocioni) and PG's who will distribute. Minny gets a couple Lottery picks to build FAST with, cap money to burn, and has offensive firepower (Davis, Peja, Gordon, Aldridge) a deep bench with stopping power (Hassell, Griffin, Boone, Blount) and it's a blend of youth and experience with inside/outside ability. Just let me know, as a Minnesota fan, if you could come to grips letting KG go if you could still put that kind of team out there..............
Hmmm, I like that trade, but does Chicago really want to get rid of Gordon. Maybe they would have to to get KG, but it seems like they should try to hang on to him. Either way, that would be a very nice situation even without Gordon there, they still have a lot of young studs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">but does Chicago really want to get rid of Gordon</div> There have been rumblings, rumors, and clippings all over Chicago area papers, Insiders, and all over the web that the Bulls are sending out feelers on Gordon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KICKSDADDY613:</div><div class="quote_post">There have been rumblings, rumors, and clippings all over Chicago area papers, Insiders, and all over the web that the Bulls are sending out feelers on Gordon.</div> There are also rumblings that the Bulls may pass on K.G. and go for Ray Allen since it's "more realistic". That just shows me that Gordon isn't as "Untouchable" as I had recently thought.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That just shows me that Gordon isn't as "Untouchable" as I had recently thought</div> Which is totally kool with me. I was happy for him to win the 6th man and all, but I think There was a lot better picks sittin there that made more sense. He's just so damn small, and not what Chicago needed. I though they could have done both of those picks much better. Deng is a keeper, however, when we signed Nocioni too. Same position. I just think they could have dealt back, picked Iggy and maybe dropped down and nabbed Al Jefferson. I'd much rather have a starting 5 of Hinrich, Iguadola, Nocioni, Jefferson, Chandler. You've got explosive atleticism, scoring, and hardcore defense. Iggy would develope more offensivly and flourish more with those players than he is in Phili.
Ive been a huge fan of the Twolves mainly from KG's amazing courtplay, and I've hated the thought of even trading him, but its gone on long enough. Timberwolves management had better trade KG because hes done so much for this franchise that they should at least care about his career and goals enough to give him a real shot to win it all, which right now isnt gonna be in Minnesota.
It's inevitable at this point KG will be traded. Looking around the league, the Bulls have everything the TWolves could want in terms of completely rebuilding. The Bulls have a lot of young, cheap players on their roster, two 2006 draft picks, an expiring contract, and they are in the East. I have to imagine any deal the TWolves entertain for KG has to involve a team also taking one or more of their undesirable contracts as well. Marko Jaric Troy Hudson Trenton Hassell Tim Thomas, Othella Harrington, Eric Piatkowski, both 2006 Draft Picks, & Ben Gordon for KG & one of the players listed above?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">One Word: Inevitable. Garnett Fan First. Timberwolves Second.</div> Thats me. In 97 I became a KG fan, the Wolves were just attached. And I like that trade you've got there Shapecity. I think out of those players that would go with him it would hopefully be Trenton Hassel. Hes a gifted defensive player, and has spurts of offensive skill that could hopefully develop into a consistent ability. I think going to Chicago is the best scenario for him. Hes going home, and the situation is much more promising in terms of big-time success in the nest few years.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Tim Thomas, Othella Harrington, Eric Piatkowski, both 2006 Draft Picks, & Ben Gordon for KG & one of the players listed above?</div> Oh HELL no! I can tell you, a deal is all good. And, as a Bull, giving up the unprotected NY draft pick (looking to be Top 3) AND giving Minnesota cap relief, PLUS BG was all in good. But never would giving up BOTH draft picks AND taking on a cancer contract (we'd already be taking on KG's) would ever fly. Besides, we drafted Trenton Hassell, I like him and all, but there was a reason they let him walk off scott free in Free Agency. The numbers wouldnt work either. Thomas ($15mil) plus Othella, Piat, Gordon, and 2 draft picks, comes out to more than, KG and Both Harrington and Piat's contracts expire.So Minnesota would get ben Gordon, 3 Lottery picks (NY's, Chicago's and their own!) and over $20 million in cap!!!! While Chicago got KG, someone's crappy contract, and lost potentially 2 Lottery picks! I dont even think Isaiah would pull a trade THAT lopsided! And I KNOW Paxson isn't that dumb, it's JOHN Paxson here in Chicago, not that idiot Jim who did everything wrong in Cleveland.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KICKSDADDY613:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh HELL no! I can tell you, a deal is all good. And, as a Bull, giving up the unprotected NY draft pick (looking to be Top 3) AND giving Minnesota cap relief, PLUS BG was all in good. But never would giving up BOTH draft picks AND taking on a cancer contract (we'd already be taking on KG's) would ever fly. Besides, we drafted Trenton Hassell, I like him and all, but there was a reason they let him walk off scott free in Free Agency. The numbers wouldnt work either. Thomas ($15mil) plus Othella, Piat, Gordon, and 2 draft picks, comes out to more than, KG and Both Harrington and Piat's contracts expire.So Minnesota would get ben Gordon, 3 Lottery picks (NY's, Chicago's and their own!) and over $20 million in cap!!!! While Chicago got KG, someone's crappy contract, and lost potentially 2 Lottery picks! I dont even think Isaiah would pull a trade THAT lopsided! And I KNOW Paxson isn't that dumb, it's JOHN Paxson here in Chicago, not that idiot Jim who did everything wrong in Cleveland.</div> Yeah, I guess your right. What if they didn't get the picks though? And you wouldn't want Trenton Hassel back? Hes in the minority of guys who can stop players like Kobe, and if he could become more consistent with his offense, hed be a stud.
