KG is wasting his time and talent in T-Wolve town. Almost feel bad for the guy...then I remember that phat-ass contract he signed.
KG has to be moved. Lee, you hand I have been talking about this for a while now. He has to be moved because his salary is a handcuff for the Wolves. He has to go to a team that has a a go to player. Chicago, Indiana, and Houston would be the front runners for his services(IMO). If I were him, I would prefer to play with Francis and Yao. That is why I think he will be playing his home games in the new Rockets arena. We have the players to deal. Expring contracts, scorers, young big men.... It may happen this summer. From the Insiders: Another early exit puts KG's future in doubt The Timberwolves have eight free agents this summer. Kevin Garnett is not one of them. So why all the hand wringing in Minnesota? Because the Wolves suffered their seventh straight round one playoff exit, this time at the hands of the Lakers, on Thursday. Garnett has a contract extension that's been sitting on the table forever. He did everything he could for the Wolves in the playoffs, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, blocks and was second on his team in assists. Despite his unbelievable effort, he couldn't do it alone. With the exception of Troy Hudson, who came up very big, Garnett is a lone wolf, and with his huge contract, he's going to be one for a while. "He's got to carry everything for so much at times," Wolves coach Flip Saunders told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "As the series progressed, they trapped him more and more and left it for our other players to beat them. When K.G. plays well, usually our other guys play well." Wally Szczerbiak, who just signed a big contract extension, was horrible. He averaged 14.5 ppg and was generally passive in just about everything he did. Rasho Nesterovic, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, wasn't any better. His 7 ppg and 5 rpg made backup Marc Jackson look like a star. Garnett refused to criticize anyone. "I'm not the type of guy who is going to cry and whine," said Garnett. "I'm a soldier. I just go with who's with me and go to battle." However, he did acknowledge that the future of the organization has never been in greater flux. "We have eight free agents and I don't even think [general manager] Kevin McHale knows what's going to happen with this team," Garnett said about the Timberwolves' future. "We just have to try and take something from this." McHale will have his hands full this summer. Garnett needs a better supporting cast and McHale has one summer to figure out how to do it. The draft probably won't help him. The Wolves have a rare first-round pick, but picking No. 26th probably isn't going to provide an impact player. The Wolves will have the full mid-level exception. Could they lure Payton to Minnesota? He would give Garnett the type of savvy veteran he's lacked these years. The Wolves may also see if they can trade Terrell Brandon to a team looking for luxury-tax relief. Brandon makes $11.1 million next season. However, he's expected to retire. If a team traded for Brandon this summer, his contract would come off the books in February. Insurance will pay 80 percent of his salary and none of his pay would end up counting for luxury-tax purposes because it comes off the books before the end of the season. A team that is desperately trying to clear cap space may be inclined to swap a solid player like Eddie Jones, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jalen Rose, Latrell Sprewell or Antonio Davis in return for the salary relief. One way or another, McHale has to do something. If this team doesn't get a serious upgrade this summer, the KG trade watch will consume the team next season as the Wolves try to figure out how to get something in return for KG before he leaves them at the alter.
If KG's going to move he'll want a decent backcourt player (e.g. lakers structure).. and if the rocks are trading off francis for him, there's no chance he'll come.. or if KG wants alot of decent role players (e.g. kings structure).. the rocks don't even have any of them now.. If he's not impressed with what minnesota has at the moment he's not going to like coming here.. Unless somehow in hell the t'wolves gives us KG for a bunch of salaries (excluding ming and francis) and want to ruin their team Also I'd like to add.. not winning a championship is KGs own fault because of his excessively large contract..
That's funny. I think the only player the T-Wolves will look at for Garnett is Yao. You don't trade franchise big men for point guards, and there is no one to put in a package, maybe Steve and Griffin, but I doubt it.
I think that to get KG, you'd have to give several 1st round draft picks. Say a package of: Rice Mobley Griff Cato filler plus 2 first round picks Perhaps, depending on Minn's frustration level, this may work. The ONLY reason that I think this package has a snowball's chance in hell is that Minn is without first round picks for the next 3 seasons. Remember, that they lost their first round pick for 5 seasons when the screwed to pooch with regards to Joe Smith. To be honest, I would give 3 first round picks to get KG. Now, before you say, "No way would I give up all those picks" think about this where are are pick likely to be with a starting team of SF anyone with a pulse KG MoT Yao Bench: Collier Norris Hawkins Morris Nachbar The benefits to Minn are several: 1. Rice comes off the books allowing them to go after a FA 2. Cato give some protection if Rasho were to leave, if he stayed they would have a very solid center rotation. 3. Mobely may have faults, but he is a proven 18 pt per game player with at times very solid defensive skills. He can put the ball in the basket 4. EG potential star ability in the near future (at least that's how you'd sell it) 5. Getting back their lost picks to help build for the future 6. Allows them to move Wally to the 3 where he is probably better suited as he is too slow to cover quicker guards. Minn Hudson Mobely Wally Smith/EG Rasho/Cato This is such a long shot, but if you examine the state of both franchises KG may need to go for Minn to get better in the future. They have very little in terms of tradeable assets to improve their team. They have to wait 3 more years before they can draft in the 1st round. Free agent additions are unlikely because so much is invested in KG. how else can they realistically get better? For the Rocks, IMO even with the loss of 3 1st round picks, it would be a no-brainer. I know that Les says no lux. tax, but with the addition of KG, the new arena would sell out easily (something that this current roster will have a hard time doing IMO) It gives them a hard nose leader, and interior toughness. Don't blast me as these are just ideas. You can say that there are other teams that can offer better packages, but is their really? Dallas is very deep, but if they have to give up 2 of their top 3 players how much would they actually improve themselves? The Bulls, all their talent is younger and even less proven then ours, plus would KG want to go their? Atl's guys could play well together as a unit in ATL why would it be different up their. The Blazers have a lot to offer, but why would Minn want them given personality problems.
For the Rockets to not be laughed at in inquiring about KG the offer would have to start with Francis or Yao + EG as the meat and go up from there, end of story.
I have to disagree. Minnesota will only trade him for two reasons. a) Garnett wants out. b) McHale realizes that there is no way Minnesota wins without help for Garnett. (McHale has to trade him because he does not have the right assets to use in a trade, no money to sign a player, and no relief from the draft) A) If Garnett demands a sign and trade, he will want to go to a team that has some of the ingredients in place. The team that he goes to must have at least one dominant player maybe even two to complement him. In that case, the Rockets along with the Bulls, Clippers, and Indiana would have players that Minnesota would want in return. (I'll get back to this "return" a little later) the following is the pros and cons for each team. Rockets Pros Francis and Yao Players and contracts to trade Rudy(a coach that he likes) Houston(big city) Year Round Golfing Press without the Stress No State Taxes... Rockets Cons I'm too biased to come up with any! LA Pros Big City Young Talent Players to trade Big Press LA Cons STERLING Lakers practice squad Coach? Players? No big contracts to trade Chicago Pros Family Ties Big City Young Players Eastern Conference Tradition No Krause Players and contracts to trade Chicago Cons Cold Family Ties Indiana Pros J O'neal and Reggie Maybe Thomas Eastern Conference Players and contracts to trade Indiana Cons Cold Nothing to do Maybe Thomas Conclusion: I think his choice would come down to the Rockets or Bulls. B) How do you rebuild after Garnett because that is exactly what Mchale is going to have to do? The best way is to receive BIG EXPIRING CONTRACTS, young big men, a scorer, and draft picks. Mchale has these teams and players to choose from(IMO): Rockets Rice or should I say the Contract Mobley EG Cato Mo Taylor change picks Clippers I don't know how this would work. They have a lot of good players but not ones with big enough contracts. You can't sign and trade numerous players, can you? Bulls Rose Marshall Jay Williams Fizer Draft picks change Pacers Croshere Bender Harrington Mercer Foster picks change Conclusion: Which would you do? I think the most important part of any trade would be expiring contracts. Followed by young big men. If that is the case and couple that with Garnett's affinity for the Rockets, GARNETT COMING TO HOUSTON IS NOT TOO FAR FETCHED!
You don't think Minn would jump at 2-3 picks in the first round for KG, especially given that they have to wait 3 more years for a pick fo their own. Add in a proven effective scorer in Mobes, a potential stud in EG, a better than servicable center in Cato, and an expiring contract that is worth enough to add a serious FA after next season. Remember KG can also always say screw you guys I'm leaving next year anyway. I know that this is MAJOR dreamcasting, but if you look at it for all angles, it is not impossible just unlikely
But guys if KG is on the market don't you really think teams are going to throw names out like J Oneal, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Gasol, Elton Brand, etc, and that is just to see if they are deserving of an initial return phone call from the Wolves? Seeing how (un)successful the Bulls strategy has been I don't think the Wolves would only take good players, expiring contracts, low draft picks, or solid prospects. They would start with a bonified star plus then demand draft picks, other merely "good" players, prospects, etc.
With all this and the type of player he is, its worth a try. At the end of the season, I'd call McHale and say I want Garnett, other than Yao and Francis, how can we make it happen? One thing the Rockets,Pacers,Bulls,and Portland have is servicable talent without gutting the team. Garnett=28mill Indy Croshere-7m Harrington-5m Mercer-6m Artest-6m Foster-3m ----------------------- 27m total Their team would still be left with A resigned J'Oneal,resigned B.Miller and Tinsley to go along with Garnett. Portland Wallace-14m Davis-10m Patterson-4m ------------------------- 28m Still left with Randolph,Stoudimire,Wells, and a really good cast of players Bulls Rose-12 Crawford-2.5 Robinson-6m Fizer-3m Marshall-5m ----------------------- 28m Homecoming and still left with developing players like Chandler,Curry and J.Williams. Also have the luxury of a high pick this yr to throw in. ATL SAR-12m Robinson-9m Henderson-7m ------------------------- 28m He would be left with terry, so he would probably tell them straight up he's gone after the season. The thing is , no matter what anyone thinks of Garnett, I don't think he's all about the money. I'm sure he wants he fair market value, but if he's traded toa team he see he won't have a chance to win with, he'll let his contract run out and resigned with someone else at the new max rate. Thats one reason why he hold all the card really, because if its a team he doesn't like, he can come out and say,he won't resign. If you're about to give up a all star or quality players and garnett comes out and says this, you will be real hesitantHouston and Portland are one of the few teams that can give up players and still be very good and attractive to him.
Why would Garnett resign with Indiana if O'neal is gone, Boston if Pierce is gone,.... Everyday that goes by, the Wolves lose leverage.
Who thinks we could win with a front-court of Ming Griffin or Taylor Garnet and a back-court of Hawkins Moochie
Leebigeze, you have me believing. I would throw in Francis, if necessary, but not Mobley and Francis both. We would need Hudson back so we had a point to replace Francis. Yao, KT, Mobley, Posey plus whoever could make noise in the playoffs.
Francis should be almost untouchable! Why? Look at the playoffs, you need a realy good if not great gaurd to win!! I know you also need a BIGman, but we have that in YAO. To get the most out of your big men you need a balance from one of the guard positions LA /Kobe Sac/ Bibby Dal/ Finley and Nash NJ/ Kidd Phil/ AI Orl/ Tmac Teams with out that balance struggle SA is the only exseption to the recipe for success. They get away with this because their BIGman is so versitle and even Dream needed Clyde. Francis will beat the pointgaurd match up on almost every team. KG is great but without that guard he would be in the same boat is in now; goin' fishin'
I thought KG was only like 25 years old.... Anyways. It's not wrong to dream! Glen Rice.....they would like, because he will free up cap space maybe. Mo Taylor has always done good against Minnesota. Eddie has potential. Mobley would be a good shooting guard for them.....Wally could be a small forward. Kelvin Cato could be a good backup center for the Bostjan Nachbar look-a-like named Rasho Nesterovic.....who they might now resign. """"plus draft picks"""" Now why would they do this?!? BECAUSE WE WOULD GIVE THEM OUR NEXT THREE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS AND OUR NEXT 6 SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICKS! WOOOHOOO. Rebuilding. Heh.
I wouldn't give up both either. If they wanted Francis, it wouldn't be that hard to give him up in the deal, if we kept Mobley. The way the offense could be constructed, Mobley could be moved back to the pg spot,Posey resigned and whoever left at the 3. Mobley could be the lead guard, Garnett and Ming working the high-low game and it would be ready to roll. If Francis was the deciding factor in the trade, then he'd have to go.
Glen Rice.....they would like, because he will free up cap space maybe. Mo Taylor has always done good against Minnesota. Eddie has potential. Mobley would be a good shooting guard for them.....Wally could be a small forward. Kelvin Cato could be a good backup center for the Bostjan Nachbar look-a-like named Rasho Nesterovic.....who they might now resign. Cuttino Mobley, Eddie Griffin, Maurice Taylor, Glen Rice, Kelvin Cato, and THREE 1st Round Draft Picks FOR Kevin Garnett, Joe Smith, and Mike Wilks. TRADE ACCEPTED!
