A few of us on this site have been wondering what it would take to get Garnett in a Rockets uniform next year.(Sorry Crew, I would of posted this on Lee's old thread but the search feature is not working.) I for one have and still believe that a deal can be put together to satisfy all three major parties. (Garnett, Rockets, Wolves) The following is an article from the Insiders: Garnett Rumors Is KG on the block? We've been inundated with Kevin Garnett rumors (mostly to the Bulls) for the past couple of years. The Wolves' seventh straight first-round playoff exit, combined with Garnett's refusal to sign a contract extension, is only fueling the fire. But up to this point, the Wolves have steadfastly maintained that they would never trade Garnett. Any potential trade scenario for KG was never really much more than a pipe dream. Owner Glen Taylor's slight hedge last week may have changed all of that. Was Taylor sending a signal to the other 28 teams in the NBA that KG was no longer untouchable? "The only way we would probably trade him is if Kevin said that he really thought that was the best thing for him, or something like that," Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It would have to be built on something I couldn't even think of right now. We don't want to, and I don't think he would want to, but that would be the scenario, I suppose. I don't think I would necessarily accept that just because he said that. But that's a possibility." While Taylor insisted that he believes Garnett wants to retire in a T-Wolves uniform, you can understand why the team is worried. Garnett wants to see significant upgrades this offseason. That's almost impossible given the Wolves' current salary situation. They're capped out, above the luxury-tax threshold and have to work out a contract for Rasho Nesterovic this summer. While they'd love to add a veteran like Gary Payton or Karl Malone to the mix, the chances of a top free agent taking less money to play in Minnesota is slim. Last time we checked, they aren't the Lakers. So . . . let the speculation begin. Insider started the ball rolling last month with a plausible trade scenario involving the Bulls. Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith resurrected that idea today, claiming that the T-Wolves may just pull the trigger on a KG trade if the Bulls sent them Jay Williams, Tyson Chandler, Jalen Rose, Eddie Robinson and their first-round pick (provided it's not the No. 1 or 2 overall pick) for KG. That's a sweetheart deal for the Wolves, who would end up with essentially three lottery picks and a borderline all-star for Garnett. It won't get any better than that. Smith claims that the Bulls could contend for the NBA Finals with a lineup of Jamal Crawford, Trenton Hassell, Donyell Marshall, Garnett and Eddy Curry. That may be a stretch, but if Crawford and Curry keep up the learning curve, it's not out of the question. Meanwhile, the Wolves would sport a team of Williams, Rose, Wally Szczerbiak, Chandler and Nesterovic with a lottery pick (someone like Mickael Pietrus, Chris Kaman, Dwyane Wade or Michael Sweetney), Troy Hudson and Joe Smith coming off the bench. That isn't too shabby either. The Bulls aren't the only team with enough talent to get the T-Wolves interested. The Pacers could work out a sign-and-trade that would ship Jermaine O'Neal, Al Harrington, Jamaal Tinsley, Ron Mercer and Fred Jones to Minnesota. The Mavs could offer a combination of Michael Finley, Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel for Garnett. And the Blazers could offer Rasheed Wallace, Zach Randolph, Derek Anderson and their first-round pick. All of the trades would give Minnesota more depth, but none of them has the upside of keeping Garnett and adding another top player to the mix. But if Kevin McHale can't make it happen, all are better scenarios than losing KG for nothing next summer. If he is not on the market yet, he will be soon. Garnett will NOT be playing for the Minnesota franchise by the end of the trading deadline next year. Any thoughts on where he is going to land? I for one think that we have the second best chance to acquire him. After all, Garnett will decide where he is going to go, not the Timberwolves. If I were him, I would rather play alongside Yao and Steve. (Dirk and Nash, Tyson and Curry,..) He likes Rudy. We have been known to pull of these types of trades before. But, he does have family in Chicago which could be a good or a bad thing. So where will he be playing his home playoff games next year? Any guesses?
Are you reading the price tags that are being associated with Garnett? There's absolutely no way we're going to be willing or able to match those kind of offers and still remain competitive. Garnett, Yao, and 10 players from the NBDL aren't going to take us to the Finals, either. Maybe we should set our sites a little lower than MVP candidate acquisitions.
Also, Minnesota probably would not trade KG to a team in their division. In fact, I can't think of a full blooded, top 5 superstar in the last 20 years that was traded to a division rival. Can anyone else? (seriously, there might have been, but none pop in my head).
I don't see Houston having enough to trade for Garnett. What package could we come up with that would equal or better some of those other trades. For us to get KG we would have to include Steve and/or Yao and that won't be happening. We don't have a draft pick to give up next season unles swe get one this year or a second one next year. I did find a trade that would work but the Rockets would have to give up Cat,EG,Cato,Mooch,Rice, for Garnett. I don' tthink Minnesota would take that deal and it would severely deplete the Rockets roster. Incidentally, RealGM has an article about KG and the Bulls on their front page right now. Nevermind, it is just the Sam Smith article. CK
Well, I disagree with how much we will have to give up to acquire Garnett. I believe that Garnett is in the driver's seat because he will be a free agent. (Remember the Pippen deal) HE WILL NOT GO TO A TEAM THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PIECES SURROUNDING HIM. Take away those players from the respective counterparty to any trade for Garnett and basically that team will be in the same predicament that Minnesota is in right now. Why would he go to a team that is not a legit contender. Allen and Cuban can afford to go over the the luxury threshold but will Garnett be better of with say Dirk and Nash? I don't think so. Would he agree to a trade with Indiana if O'neal is gone? Portland if Sheed is gone? Don't discount the value of Rice's contract. That in my opinion is the key to the deal for Minnesota. Expiring contracts, young big men, and a scorer may be enough. Rice's contract Cat EG Mo Taylor Cato 2 first round picks.
A reminder to you. For us to trade those as we are right now they would have to be 2005 and 2007. Or we would have to get 1st rounders in other drafts to be able to trade any others. You cannot have consecutive years with no first round draft pick.
I know! I remember the Webber/Penny deal. I also know that there will be some cap fillers on both sides to make the salaries work out.
Assuming these trade rumors are even legit, the Rockets would have to be willing to part with Steve Francis to outdo these. Essentially, if you put together a package of Steve, Eddie and Cato, none of these other teams will be able to compete with it. The question is, how bad do you want KG b/c this team does have the depth to make something happen if they decide to. If you offer the Wolves Francis, Griffin, Cato for Garnett and Hudson, I think thats a pretty good starting point for both sides. After that, each team would just throw in fillers to make the numbers balance. None of these other proposals have a player as dynamic as Francis who has the potential to very soon be a top 10 player in the league plus someone with Eddie's upside. The proposals all have one or the other but not both. In addition, Cato has become a very solid center. Kevin Garnett is one of the very few players I would deal Francis for b/c he is a top 5 player and will be that for a long time. If you have a trio of Yao, Garnett, Mobley plus a supporting cast of Taylor, Posey, Hudson plus whoever else you pick up with the exception, this team will have a championship level core.
KGs 28 million dollar contract ends next season, hes gotta be expecting that or more in the future..Whoever signs him would be facing a franchise crusher if he were to end up like Alonzo Mourning. But hes a great player..and if he stays healthy..hes probably worth 30 million.
Again, Garnett decides where he is going to go. I don't believe that he would come here if Francis is not his teammate.
I agree with MManal. If you want KG you have to give up SF(or Ming, but lets not go there), and Minny has to want SF. But since minny probly doesn't want sf, and sf is byc, that forces it to be a 3 way, which makes it much more difficil.
I would do that deal straight up, even without demanding Hudson in return. Keep in mind that Steve will be a BYC player, though, so you would have to get a third team that is under the cap after July 1st to take a few million in salary to pull off the trade.
Houston trades: SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.7 minutes) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 20.6 minutes) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 41.7 minutes) PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 24.5 minutes) SF James Posey (10.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg in 30.3 minutes) Houston receives: SF Kevin Garnett (23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 6.0 apg in 40.5 minutes) Change in team outlook: -31.3 ppg, -7.9 rpg, and -2.3 apg. Minnesota trades: SF Kevin Garnett (23.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 6.0 apg in 40.5 minutes) Minnesota receives: SF Glen Rice (9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg in 62 games) PF Maurice Taylor (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg in 67 games) SG Cuttino Mobley (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 73 games) PF Eddie Griffin (8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 77 games) SF James Posey (10.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg in 83 games) Change in team outlook: +31.3 ppg, +7.9 rpg, and +2.3 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Houston and Minnesota being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Houston and Minnesota had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. sorry... bored again. would anybody go for this?
One thing. In 99% of deals, Steve Francis's BYC issues will be a factor, and a third team will have to be involved. However, this KG deal is one where it could be worked around. Once you start exchanging in the neighborhood of 20 plus mil in contracts from each side, you get to the point where you are within 15% of the each of the requirements for BYC. Its a really wierd strategy, but this is essentially what the Heat used when they traded PJ Brown and Jamal Mashburn for Eddie Jones (who became 50% BYC in the sign and trade). Basically each team put enough players into the deal so that they would not have to involve a third team to resolve BYC. If Nikestrad is reading this, please explain this "splitting technique" in more detail. It gets a little too complicated for me when you start involving exact numbers. Suffice it to say that 99% of the time you need a third team to resolve 50% BYC, except for rare situations than 20+ mil worth of contracts are exchanging sides.
Mumu, I seriously doubt KG would be opposed to coming to Houston if Steve is not here. You have to give something to get something. As much as I like Steve Francis, you do whatever is in your power to get a rare talent like KG. KG is already a top 5 player in this league, and Yao will be one in the very near future. You combine two top 5 talents that would likely work extremely well together with a solid SG like Mobley, then you have the foundation for a team that can make multiple title runs. You dont need to have Yao, KG, Steve to get it done. Also I seriously doubt KG is going to say "I will only go to team X." Usually, players give their teams a list of a few destinations that they would be ok with. Houston would likely be on the short list but not the only one imo.
Am I the only one who would trade Yao, EG, Cat and some garbage for KG? If we have KG and Cato we dont need a big man to hold it down. I love Yao's upside and the attention he brings, but we are talking MVP Canidate who is proven year in and year out. Plus I question Yao's durability because of his obligations to the Chinese National Team. Being 7'5 and playing ball year round has to be hard on the body. Yao is not untouchable if we are talking about the Shaq's and Kg's (ALL STAR - MVP Caliber BIG MEN). Their are few people if any that I would trade Yao for, but KG is definetly one of them. Just food for thought.
