KG discusses future in Minnesota

[imahustla]

Didn't see this posted, although it's been on ESPN.com for a few days now:

KG opens up about losing, AI and his future
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Garnett really wanted to wait.


He knows that uncomfortable questions will be unavoidable once his Minnesota Timberwolves mathematically are doomed to a third straight season out of the playoffs.


He knows that if you're giving the Wolves any thought these days, it's only to wonder whether years of disappointment and Wolves mismanagement finally have convinced the 30-year-old to push for a trade.


He also knows, even as his 12th season drains away, that he'd rather withhold those thoughts from public consumption for as long as he can.


Yet if anyone in the NBA can identify with persistence, it's KG. So when he repeatedly spotted ESPN.com in his beloved 'Sota last week, Garnett eventually relented. He consented to take a few minutes' worth of questions after Saturday's practice … after practice, lifting weights and a round of extra shooting that -- shocker -- made him the last Wolf off the floor.


Q: Your future comes up more than ever because of the opt-out clause in your contract after next season. But forget what media types like me have been saying. I'm sure you've heard some of your former peers like Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller on TV urging you to ask for a trade. What's your reaction when they say it?


A: I was telling some friends the other day, my analogy is a house. I've helped build a house or I've built a house [in Minneapolis]. It had old wood in it and I replaced it with special wood and it became a beautiful place. But now because things aren't working right, now you ask me to move out of something that I helped build. That's hard.


People who have experienced moving, they can look at [my situation] and say it's probably an easier process [to request a trade]. But I haven't done that, so it's not as easy for me. I can't speak with the perspective of people who have [switched teams]. You hear the stories. I've got personal friends that moved from teams. But instead of replacing some of the appliances or replacing some of the pipes or replacing things in the house, you just ask me to move? That's a difficult call for me.


But losing's also hard for me, too.


Q: Another season like this must be killing you then?


A: It is. It is. It is. It is. And not just how we're losing. The personnel. I was crushed when we let Sammy [Cassell] go [in 2005] and Spree [Latrell Sprewell]. I felt like we didn't handle that right.


Q: So one of the problems …


A: Not having enough veterans here. [And] no disrespect towards Case [ex-Wolves coach Dwane Casey], I enjoyed my two years with him, but when you're trying to build, when you're trying to win, you got to have … there's a lot of good coaches out there. There's a lot of great coaches out there.



Q: I've heard that the Wolves were so convinced at one point in early December that Allen Iverson was Minnesota-bound that management was getting owner Glen Taylor's plane ready to pick AI up in Philly. Were you led to believe that an Iverson trade was that close?


A: Freddy [assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg] was keeping me in tune with what was going on and when that happened … I don't know. I don't know. I'm not gonna front. I was very excited. And then at the 11th hour, things fell through.


Q: Mark Madsen told me that the question he gets most from people on the street or in restaurants is whether you're going to stay in Minnesota or ask to be traded. But Madsen also told me that he and the rest of your teammates never ask you those kinds of questions. Doesn't that surprise you a little?


A: I let it be known to everyone [in the organization] that we're going to finish this year out and everybody's going to assess and do what they have to do for themselves. And I'm no different from that. But I don't get into detail or the distraction of talking about something that I haven't really in depth researched or talked about myself.


Q: But after spending a few days in town, I have to tell you, there's a feeling in the air that this is all coming to a head and that the end is near for the Kevin Garnett era in Minnesota. You really don't feel the same thing?


A: My feeling is I got 10 games [left as of Saturday] and I'm going to finish the 10 like it's my last [of my career]. I'm going to finish them as if we're still in the playoff hunt, finish them off 110 percent, and then I'll assess what I'm going to do. Until then, man, I'm going to continue to try to enjoy this game like I always have.


Q: If you end up staying with the Wolves and one trip to the Western Conference finals is as good as it gets in your career, won't that be hard to live with?


A: Absolutely. To fulfill myself and my appetite, obviously. But like I said, I'm not going to even get into it. Maybe I'll speak to you later on in the future about some other things. Other than that, I'm going to finish these 10 off like it's my last.


Q: It's been said that you dream of being basketball's answer to the late Kirby Puckett in Minneapolis, playing for only one team and delivering a championship to Minnesotans like Kirby did. Is that a valid comparison?


A: When you adopt a city or a city has adopted you, I play my heart out not just for myself and my family but also for this city. That's not to be discounted in anything. I feel like, if you're going to be a face somewhere … lots of guys are faces of the [cities] they play in and I'm the face here. I take a lot of pride in that. Kirby, may he rest in peace, was a dear, dear friend. And he taught me that if management's right, you can win here just like you can win anywhere else. And I've sort of adopted that.


Q: So if you or the Wolves choose not to pursue a trade this summer, do you think we'll still see some major changes with this franchise?


A: There's got to be. F--- yeah. I think [head coach] Randy Wittman would echo that, so it's not just me.

My thoughts are, the Cavs had SO MUCH pressure put on them to build a winner around LeBron so damn quickly, or else the national media would have been all over him having to leave Cleveland. Yet, 11 years of this shit in Minnesota, and KG is still thinking of returning for a 12th?

Here's a team that hasn't been able to build a winner around, hasn't been able to get him help save for one or two years here and there. Stephon Marbury was traded before he even finished his third year in Minnesota. That might have been more of SM being a little punk bitch than Minnesota wanting to get rid of him, but still, they have nothing to show for him now. They lost three first-round draft picks because of illegal under-the-table negotiations with Joe Smith, the only team stupid enough to do so (or stupid enough to get caught, but whatever). When they DID have a draft pick, they were too busy picking guys like Ndi Ebu or whatever in 2003 while Leandro Barbosa and JOSH HOWARD went in the next three picks after them. They pissed off Garnett by trading Cassell for Jaric, but wait, that's not all. They could lose their lottery pick this year if it's not in the top 10...because of that trade. I mean, who thinks that Jaric is better than Cassell, enough to give up a first-rounder?

They could have had AI this year instead of Denver, and that definitely would have gone a long way in ensuring that KG retired a Timberwolf, but they didn't do it. Why? Because Randy Foye is going to be better than Iverson? Because whatever stiff they draft this summer, assuming they even have their pick, is going to be more worthwhile than Iverson?

If this nonsense went on in Cleveland, LeBron would be gone so fast he'd be nothing but a distant memory. Yet, Garnett re-upped with Minnesota not once but twice, and he still doesn't demand a trade.

(OK, with that off my chest, let's discuss possible KG-to-Cleveland trade proposals. )

 

[Mac]

It's so hard for a team to trade for Garnett that I really don't think it is ever going to happen. He makes too much money.

I love KG, but it's his own fault. How are you supposed to build around you when you take up half of the salary cap?

 

[imahustla]

It would be hard for Minnesota to build around him via free agency, but if they had draft picks and made smarter trades, they'd still be a contender today. Imagine if they, and not Dallas, drafted Josh Howard. Or if they had held on to Sam Cassell, esp considering how much Cassell helped the Clips last year. The Stephon Marbury deal was more of Marbury being a whiny loser than anything, but you don't need free agency to build a good contender. The Timberwolves could have done it through the draft, but they either a) lost their picks or b) drafted a bust.

And yeah, with that salary, it will be hard as hell to move him. Minnesota might have to take 50 cents on the dollar to trade him if he says he wants out.

 

[B Mac]

Dont forget KG has that opt out clause this summer. He could technically opt out and then sign for the veteran minimum somewhere if he wanted to. Not likely but possible.

 

[ctownhommie]

I look for KG to go to the Suns.

They can offer a package of Marion, and three 1st round picks.
That's money in a deep draft like this. Atlanta's should be pretty high.

Cavs best offer would be

Gooden, Hughes, AV
for KG and a bad contract

 

[Mac]

Dont forget KG has that opt out clause this summer. He could technically opt out and then sign for the veteran minimum somewhere if he wanted to. Not likely but possible.

Next summer

 

[SOA]

Cavs best offer would be

Gooden, Hughes, AV for KG and a bad contract

thats not far off from the deal rumored a couple months ago with Jaric or Hudson being the bad contract

if the bad contract this time was Mike James would you do it

 

[Mac]

Why would they want to do that?

 

[SOA]

just stated what was rumored around the deadline

I personally think it would take Z, AV and Hughes

 

[Mac]

Salary wise...there isnt any combination of players the Cavs can come up with that the TWolves would want.

Z? No. Larry? lol, no. Anderson, eh..not for KG in anyway shape or form.

There was no rumors at the deadline because KG wasn't on the market.

 

[Deadlock]

It's so hard for a team to trade for Garnett that I really don't think it is ever going to happen. He makes too much money.

I love KG, but it's his own fault. How are you supposed to build around you when you take up half of the salary cap?

I always wonder this. Stars like KG who take a crap load of cap room but want to win. Why bother taking so much of the cap then really? You make enough from your sponsors that you don't need to take that much money. Something I always wondered.

 

[imahustla]

just stated what was rumored around the deadline

There were no rumored KG-to-Cleveland deals at the deadline, except the ones made up by delusional fans. I doubt the Cavs have even had discussions with Minnesota about Garnett.

 

[SOA]

There were no rumored KG-to-Cleveland deals at the deadline, except the ones made up by delusional fans. I doubt the Cavs have even had discussions with Minnesota about Garnett.

I guess the ones reported in the press and on the radio were by delusional sports reporters
correct me if Iam wrong but wasn't WTAM reporting the trade rumor as well?

 

[Mac]

WTAM=Rhoda doesnt count. KG wasnt on the market, so there were no trades disucssed.

 

[SOA]

rumors are rumors regardless of the source

well there DEFINITELY are rumors NOW that I will admit have MORE substance!

the question now is do we go all out to get KG if it means getting a lesser PG.

my answer is . . . .yes