LA Times: Jerry Buss asks Glen Taylor for Kevin Garnett

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LA TIMES: The owners of the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have begun talks for a trade that would involve sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers, league sources said Monday.

A multi-team trade discussion is underway involving the Lakers, Indiana, Minnesota and possibly a fourth team, with the Lakers getting Garnett and the Pacers getting Lamar Odom and teenage center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers. Another minor player will likely be added to make the deal work financially.

Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke by phone for 20 minutes Friday. Buss reportedly ended the conversation by suggesting that Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale would continue the discussion Monday.

Such a move could address the concerns of Kobe Bryant, who has demanded to be traded for more than four weeks.

Bryant met with Kupchak for about an hour Friday, a day after Garnett rejected a trade that would have sent him to Boston.

Bryant did not step down from his desire to be traded. However, Kupchak, Buss and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson met later that day to discuss options based on the assumption they would still have Bryant, The Times has learned.

Garnett, 31, has never formally asked for a trade while signaling his distress in recent years as the Timberwolves fell from top-notch status. The No. 1-seeded team in the Western Conference in 2004, they lost to the Lakers in the West finals and haven't made the playoffs since then.

The Timberwolves finished 33-49 in 2005-06 and 32-50 last season, tied for 12th in the West with Portland.

Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season. He wants an extension, which Buss reportedly told Taylor he was willing to offer. Garnett is due to earn $22 million next season and $23 million in 2008-09, the last year of his contract.

Garnett, a 10-time All-Star, averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocked shots last season while showing few signs of slowing down, other than spending the last five games of the season in Los Angeles — he has a home in Malibu — to rest a sore right quadriceps.
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Plus, on XTRASPORTS right now, they're saying a KG deal is so close it's almost imminent.

 

Good God!

 

Do It Mitch! Trade The Whole Roster Less Kobe! Forget Jermaine When You Can Get Garnett!!!!!!

 

LOL! this whole thing is nutts. It would be funny if the lakers signed KG and Kobe still left! Kobe cannot be trusted in his current mindstate.

 

Bring KG to LA.... for half of the roster lmao....
New nick name for Kobe+KG= KGB D
As long as Kobe doesn't go to Chicago i will be happy!

I see Lakers Line up for next year as this!
PG Smush Parker/Farmer
SG KOBE
SF Evans/Radmanovich
PF KG or KG
C Sean Williams

 

Mitch better get this done.

 

L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes
Kwame Brown
6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS)
8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes
Andrew Bynum
7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS)
7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes
Maurice Evans
6-5 SG from Texas
8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes
Incoming
Kevin Garnett
6-11 PF from Farragut Academy (HS)
22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.1 apg in 39.5 minutes
Craig Smith
6-7 SF from Boston College
7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 apg in 18.7 minutes
Change in team outlook: -10.7 ppg, -6.7 rpg, and -4.0 apg.


New York Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
11.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg in 28.1 minutes
Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg in 37.3 minutes
Jared Jeffries
6-11 SF from Indiana
4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.8 minutes
Incoming
Kwame Brown
6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS)
8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes
Jermaine O'Neal
6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS)
19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes
Change in team outlook: -5.1 ppg, +4.5 rpg, and -5.3 apg.


Minnesota Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Kevin Garnett
6-11 PF from Farragut Academy (HS)
22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.1 apg in 39.5 minutes
Craig Smith
6-7 SF from Boston College
7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 apg in 18.7 minutes
Incoming
Andrew Bynum
7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS)
7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes
Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
11.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg in 28.1 minutes
Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg in 37.3 minutes
Shawne Williams
6-9 SF from Memphis
3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.1 minutes
Change in team outlook: +10.8 ppg, -3.4 rpg, and +5.2 apg.


Indiana Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Jermaine O'Neal
6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS)
19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes
Shawne Williams
6-9 SF from Memphis
3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.1 minutes
Incoming
Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes
Maurice Evans
6-5 SG from Texas
8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes
Jared Jeffries
6-11 SF from Indiana
4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.8 minutes
Change in team outlook: +5.0 ppg, +5.6 rpg, and +4.1 apg.

Just a few draft pick swaps and, IMO, this deal is gold. Indiana may also need a piece or two more in this deal. It fills many wholes on all of these teams. Also a deal being "almost imminent" means nothing because we were SO close to a JO deal. But CAN THAT IDEA WE ARE GETTING KG!! After we get KG, LA is an attractive site to the likes of Chauncey Billups. KG and Billups REUNITED alongside the league's best player.
Starting 5 NOW:

PG Chauncey Billups (may be impossible, but hey, our back up is Luther Head)

SG Kobe (He ain't going anywhere).

SF Ron Artest??? (Seems every team wants him now, but Miami and LA are on top of his list, but I doubt Kupchak explored that situation enough)

PF KEVIN GARNETT

C Ronny Turiaf??? Prolly here is where we need MLE center, Magloire???

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakerman34 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes
Kwame Brown
6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS)
8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes
Andrew Bynum
7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS)
7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes
Maurice Evans
6-5 SG from Texas
8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes
Incoming
Kevin Garnett
6-11 PF from Farragut Academy (HS)
22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.1 apg in 39.5 minutes
Craig Smith
6-7 SF from Boston College
7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 apg in 18.7 minutes
Change in team outlook: -10.7 ppg, -6.7 rpg, and -4.0 apg.


New York Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
11.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg in 28.1 minutes
Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg in 37.3 minutes
Jared Jeffries
6-11 SF from Indiana
4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.8 minutes
Incoming
Kwame Brown
6-11 C from Glynn Academy (HS)
8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.8 apg in 27.6 minutes
Jermaine O'Neal
6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS)
19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes
Change in team outlook: -5.1 ppg, +4.5 rpg, and -5.3 apg.


Minnesota Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Kevin Garnett
6-11 PF from Farragut Academy (HS)
22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.1 apg in 39.5 minutes
Craig Smith
6-7 SF from Boston College
7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 apg in 18.7 minutes
Incoming
Andrew Bynum
7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS)
7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 21.9 minutes
Steve Francis
6-3 PG from Maryland
11.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg in 28.1 minutes
Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg in 37.3 minutes
Shawne Williams
6-9 SF from Memphis
3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.1 minutes
Change in team outlook: +10.8 ppg, -3.4 rpg, and +5.2 apg.


Indiana Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Jermaine O'Neal
6-11 C from Eau Claire (HS)
19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.4 apg in 35.7 minutes
Shawne Williams
6-9 SF from Memphis
3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg in 12.1 minutes
Incoming
Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg in 39.3 minutes
Maurice Evans
6-5 SG from Texas
8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.8 minutes
Jared Jeffries
6-11 SF from Indiana
4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.8 minutes
Change in team outlook: +5.0 ppg, +5.6 rpg, and +4.1 apg.

Just a few draft pick swaps and, IMO, this deal is gold. Indiana may also need a piece or two more in this deal. It fills many wholes on all of these teams. Also a deal being "almost imminent" means nothing because we were SO close to a JO deal. But CAN THAT IDEA WE ARE GETTING KG!! After we get KG, LA is an attractive site to the likes of Chauncey Billups. KG and Billups REUNITED alongside the league's best player.
Starting 5 NOW:

PG Chauncey Billups (may be impossible, but hey, our back up is Luther Head)

SG Kobe (He ain't going anywhere).

SF Ron Artest??? (Seems every team wants him now, but Miami and LA are on top of his list, but I doubt Kupchak explored that situation enough)

PF KEVIN GARNETT

C Ronny Turiaf??? Prolly here is where we need MLE center, Magloire???</div>

New York trade looks good to me! but I would want a pick from either the Lakers or the Pacers or Wolves ...
But the thing is we're going to have PF LEE,C James, Curry, C Jermain, PF Brown, PF Frey, C Morris thats too many centers and PF i think. I would send Frey somewhere to the Lakers may be for the pick?

 

<div class="quote_poster">LBJ2006MVP Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">New York trade looks good to me! but I would want a pick from either the Lakers or the Pacers or Wolves ...
But the thing is we're going to have PF LEE,C James, Curry, C Jermain, PF Brown, PF Frey, C Morris thats too many centers and PF i think. I would send Frey somewhere to the Lakers may be for the pick?</div>

How about #19 and #40 of Lakers picks sends Channing Frye to LA, and Minnesota gives Troy Hudson to New York and Jerome James goes to Minnesota?

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakerman34 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How about #19 and #40 of Lakers picks sends Channing Frye to LA, and Minnesota gives Troy Hudson to New York and Jerome James goes to Minnesota?</div>

If that were part of the original deal that may make a little sense cause the Lakers give up all of their bigs for one in return, which could possibly be a deal breaker by being too short handed. Minny is in need of a big man, and NY would be gutting their guards so a swap for both of the seldomly used players makes sense also. Us fans are getting a little too excited here.. makin up our own trades again.. haha. I'm not getting my hopes up anymore though, been crushed too many times.

 

ESPN: Chad Ford *Insider Pass* Update:
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Are the Boston Celtics the key to moving Kevin Garnett to L.A.?

The Los Angeles Times reported on Monday that the Lakers were in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a trade that would send Garnett to the Lakers. The trade would also involve the Indiana Pacers and possibly a fourth team.

After speaking with a league source, I think the deal has some legs, though it doesn't appear imminent.

According to the source, the key to completing the deal is finding a fourth team that would (a) take Jermaine O'Neal and ( send the Timberwolves enough pieces to complete the deal.

For instance, here's one scenario that could work:

1) The Wolves send Kevin Garnett and Marko Jaric to the Lakers.

2) The Lakers send Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to the Pacers and the No. 19 pick to the Wolves.

3) The Pacers send Jermaine O'Neal to the Celtics.

4) The Celtics send the No. 5 pick, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair to Minnesota.

Here's what that trade looks like in the Trade Machine, keeping in mind that there will also be draft picks involved.

The deal seems as though it would probably work for the Lakers, Pacers and Celtics.

The Lakers would get the guy they want to pair with Kobe in KG. Surely that would end any talk of a Kobe trade this summer.

The Pacers would get the two guys they want in exchange for O'Neal in Odom and Bynum. They've been waiting patiently for a straight-up swap with L.A. for weeks involving those three players (and a draft pick).

The Celtics would get another star quality player to pair with Paul Pierce without having to give up Al Jefferson.

But is it enough for Minnesota? That's the question.

The deal would give the Wolves more than $20 million in cap relief next summer and two additional picks in this year's draft. It also would give them two young prospects in Green and Telfair.
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-

 

Word is Boston isn't willing to part with Al Jefferson otherwise the Laker organizaton would be picking up Garnett at the Airport

 

Marko Jaric huh... not too keen on him after watching him play for the Clippers for years, and is grossly overpaid (7.6 mil when his contract expires in '11...) We'll be committed to 50 million in cap for just Kobe, garnett and Jaric alone. Aside from that, this trade would be ideal for all four teams. Everyone gets what they want, and the Wolves get a ton of cap relief along with an early pick and Green. But looking at it from Boston's perspective... is O'Neal worth all of that?

 

<div class="quote_poster">K8BE24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Word is Boston isn't willing to part with Al Jefferson otherwise the Laker organizaton would be picking up Garnett at the Airport</div>

they wouldn't be dealing Jefferson. Trade looks good for three teams, but it seems like Boston gets the short end of the stick. They get a superstar in O'Neal, however they lose all of their cap flexibility along with a very early pick and Green.

 

<div class="quote_poster">K8BE24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Word is Boston isn't willing to part with Al Jefferson otherwise the Laker organizaton would be picking up Garnett at the Airport</div>

The rumor that I heard was they give up Al Jefferson and the 5 for essentially Jermaine O Neal. That would be a HORRIBLE deal for Boston. The deal the insider said is much more believable.

 

Meanwhile, Bucher is reporting that even if the deal is official, word out of Kobe land is he still doesn't want to be a Laker. WTF

 

<div class="quote_poster">K8BE24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Meanwhile, Bucher is reporting that even if the deal is official, word out of Kobe land is he still doesn't want to be a Laker. WTF</div>

I doubt that. Ilike Bucher, but I wouldn't believe that.