Early trade speculation has Kevin Garnett leaving the Minnesota
Timberwolves. Certain sources have already reported that
Detroit offered Rasheed Wallace and Darko Milicic, yet Joe Dumars
denied the rumors. And unless the T-Wolves sincerely believed
that Darko was worth being sandwiched in the draft between
Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, there is not a chance this
deal would happen.
Other destinations has KG headed to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal
and Jamal Tinsley, to Golden State for Jason Richardson and
some young bigs, and to Los Angeles for Kwame Brown, Lamar
Odom and Chris Mihm.
However the strongest rumors have placed KG in New York.
While the Knicks do not have anything substantial to offer, and
yes Stephon Marbury is not substantial, most believe that this
rumor is the creation of agents hoping for the big bucks that
follow sponsorship dollars.
Regardless, the T-Wolves would be crazy to move KG. He may be
the best player in the NBA, and is certainly the most versatile
big. The T-Wolves should be surrounding KG with other stars and
not removing their biggest star.
Rumored to be on the block are Marbury, Peja Stoyakovic, Paul
Pierce and Chris Bosh.
Marbury has yet to show any team that they will be better with
him, as teams keep improving once he leaves (see New Jersey
and Phoenix). Expect the same of the Knicks if they are able to
unload their selfish star. One possibility has frustrated stars
switching places as Marbury could be sent to Orlando for Steve
Francis. Both teams may hope that a new situation will bring
better results.
Peja has often been linked to the Pacers for Ron Artest.
Sacramento could use the D and Indianapolis would like an
outside threat with a slightly better demeanor. This trade looked
possible a year ago before the Malice at the Palace, but now has
no chance as Artest is playing like an all-star and Peja is having
his worst shooting year. The T-Wolves could enter the rumors
and dangle Wally Szczerbiak, but that would not move either
team in any direction.
Quiet rumors have circled Paul Pierce for a few seasons now. He
is great player but the Celtics aren’t going anywhere with him.
General Manager Danny Ainge has stated his like for Lamar Odom
and suddenly the possibility of a three-way trade exists that
gives KG his running mate, Ainge his man and the Lakers a
change and cap room.
Pierce would go to the T-Wolves, Odom and Kwame Brown to the
Celtics, and Szczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi to the Lakers (a
few piecemeal players would be needed to satisfy the CBA).
Pierce would become the perfect second threat on the T-Wolves
and should be enough to win the division and keep KG happy.
Odom, who does not fit the triangle due to his inability to get
from the perimeter to the middle, would thrive in the East where
he does not have to face the power forwards of the West.
Brown, who has been reduced to learning how to catch and jump
in practices, already needs a new home and a hands-on coach,
something Doc Rivers and not Phil Jackson can do.
The Lakers would finally get that second shooter in Szczerbiak.
On a team that features Kobe Bryant shooting 30 times a game
and every other Laker afraid to take an important shot,
Szczerbiak would definitely hoist it up. Olowokandi is in the last
year of his contract, still shows flashes of talent that made him
the number one pick, and at the very least is a big body to clog
the middle.
Which leaves Chris Bosh, the most talented of those available.
Bosh has no desire to stay put in Toronto as losing will be the
norm for seasons to come. As the Raptors must choose between
losing their best player and get nothing or trade now to get some
value, they will obviously trade.
More rumors to come soon…
