NBA Trade Rumors: With the NBA Trade Deadline approaching, the Minnesota Timberwolves have explored the idea of trading for Kevin Garnett
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Kevin Garnett was simply terrifying during his days as a perennial All-Star with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now, he could well end up finishing his career where it all began.
Garnett was drafted by the Timberwolves in 1995, and after spending 12 years in Minnesota he’s since been with the Boston Celtics for six seasons and now the Brooklyn Nets for two.
He may not be the NBA MVP caliber player he was in the 2003-4 season (when he averaged 24.2 points, a league best 13.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game) but as a skilled veteran leader who can inspire those around him, there aren’t many better than Kevin Garnett.
It’s believed that the trade the Timberwolves wish to make would involve sending their 26 year old power forward, Thaddeus Young, to Brooklyn in exchange for Garnett.
It is surprising that Minnesota would rather acquire the player that is 12 years older, but the history that Garnett has with the team is the main factor that could potentially persuade him to leave the Nets.
This is what Marc Stein of ESPN has reported:
"Garnett has insisted in recent weeks that he is not in the market for an in-season exit from Brooklyn, largely because he does not wish to displace his family in the middle of the season.But the Wolves, sources say, are hopeful that the chance to play out what might be his final NBA season as a member of the team that drafted him out of high school in 1995 — and under longtime coach Flip Saunders — could lead Garnett to reconsider."
As a true T-Wolves legend, Garnett has plenty of sentimental reasons to go home. Yet the question is whether that would persuade him to move across country mid-season and go from the Eastern Conference (where he has a shot at making the playoffs) to the Western Conference (where the Timberwolves reside in 15th place). If he doesn’t want to leave Brooklyn though, then he’s armed with a no-trade clause that could put all these discussions to an end.
Garnett is a furious competitor, and with the Nets just one win behind the Miami Heat in 8th place, they are by no means out of the playoff race.
That being said, Garnett only has so much playing time left. And to finish his career with the team that drafted him, with a coach he has a relationship with and where he earned so many accolades and achievements, could be a better way to ride into the sunset that staying with a team of wily veterans in Brooklyn.
Not to mention having a chance to play with some young exciting talent (in the form of Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine for instance) could be another incentive for a change of scenery.
At least he’d have a front row seat to watch some of the best dunkers in the game.
However, this will obviously be an extremely difficult decision for Garnett to make. So don’t be surprised if his decision isn’t revealed until 2:59 p.m. (ET).
Next: Five players that should be traded before the deadline