<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Now that we know what Philadelphia's high-scoring and controversial Allen Iverson will bring on the NBA open market, the inevitable question for the Timberwolves becomes: What will Kevin Garnett bring? Whether the Wolves are the first ones to ask that question or the last, make no mistake, it will get asked. It will get asked in earnest as the league's trading deadline (Feb. 22) approaches over the next two months. It will get asked as Garnett's contract grinds toward its completion in the summer of 2009 or, more urgently, its opt-out clause in July 2008. It will get asked throughout the NBA, beginning today, by teams disappointed in their bids to land Iverson and still desperate for a killer move to make a Finals run. It will get asked by teams searching for an identity, willing to offer the potential of young talent and future draft picks for the here-and-now presence of a nine-time All-Star. The question most definitely will get asked by predatory rivals convinced that Garnett will be their independent accomplice, requesting or demanding that the Wolves do for him what the 76ers just did for Iverson -- move him to a team with a legitimate chance to chase a championship. It already might have been asked in Minnesota's front office, since it knows all of the above soon will come crashing down. Maybe it will be asked by Garnett this morning, before he bolts Target Center to crawl out on the ledge of a downtown office building. When it does get asked, the question will be framed something like this: "An aging, diminutive and disruptive gunner who makes life difficult for every coach he plays for was traded by Philadelphia, despite its artificial and self-imposed deadline, for one solid player (Andre Miller), one expiring contract (Joe Smith) and two first-round picks in June, neither of which figures to be high. What, then, might an equally high-mileage but multi-dimensional 7-footer who makes teammates better, abides by laws and rules, plays hard at two ends and actually likes to practice (practice!?) be worth?" If the clich? in pro sports really is true -- that some of the best trades are the ones you do not make -- then Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale just didn't make a blockbuster. For every cautious, build-from-within fan who cringed at the idea of dealing rookie Randy Foye, there must have been 10 -- judging unscientifically from calls and e-mails -- who saw an Iverson trade, regardless of cost, as the only way to maximize what remains of Garnett's prime and reinvigorate the franchise. McHale, declining interview requests Tuesday, instead issued a statement. It read in part: "We looked at many different scenarios and explored many different options, but at the end of the day, it was Philadelphia's decision to make. We will not be discussing this in any further detail as it's not in the best interest of our team." The tricky part for the Wolves, if you believe some reports, is that they let the deal die because they wanted to hang onto Foye. It's either that or, even by dangling Foye, they didn't have enough assets to entice Philadelphia. Neither reflects particularly well on McHale's team-building. He didn't have the expiring contracts the 76ers wanted for salary. He didn't have future first-round picks to land a once-in-a-generation guy such as Iverson because he gambled away two on Marko Jaric and Marcus Banks. If it was a matter of not budging on Foye, well, McHale picked a lousy time to refuse to mortgage the future. Foye might have the vast trade cloud lifted from him, but the rookie guard now faces a new level of pressure: Will he become good enough to justify not swapping him for Iverson? </div> Source
I dont see anything Minn would want from LA unless it was Odem, if they trade him without giving up those 2 all they would probably get is some bad picks.
<div class="quote_poster">fitch4delk00 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I dont see anything Minn would want from LA unless it was Odem, if they trade him without giving up those 2 all they would probably get is some bad picks.</div> Garnett has the option to opt out his contract after the 08 season, if he is unhappy with the route the organization is going. He then will become a free agent. Some speculate he will come play for the Lakers because the Lakers are one piece away from contending, him and Kobe are good friends, him and Maurice Evans are good friends, and his cousin (Shammond Williams) also plays for the Lakers. It isn't a guarentee he will become a Laker, but I definetly see it as a possibility
I don't think KG is going anywhere for the season. As much as I like the big guy I think that he'll just have to endure another ugly season. Next season he could opt out as an FA and take a paycut playing for LA since that is the scenario everyone seems to like. The guy has money, not like that's the important thing for him but I don't think that landing a big contract is that big a deal for him. Garnett wants it... and we all know that he very well deserves it. Leave in the off-season and either take a paycut with L.A. or go elsewhere. That's the way I see it.
It's still early in the season and Minnesota is only two games under .500. They are in the mix for the 8th seed and have the talent to make a run. Randy Foye continues to improve, and once he gets acclamated into the starting lineup, he could make the difference for the TWolves. However, if Minnesota fails to make the playoffs for a 3rd straight year, I definitely feel KG will be moved.
KG has been loyal to a crappy organization for over a decade, do you guys really think that he will leave them high and dry by opting out of his contract. If KG wants out all he has to do is tell McHale to trade him and it will get done. If you want to close your eyes and fantacize about KG in LA than do it in the Lakers forum.
