Stein: Celtics, T-Wolves discussing Garnett trade again

[Folster]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2954127


Sources: Celtics, T-Wolves discussing Garnett trade again

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, who nearly completed a blockbuster Kevin Garnett trade before the June draft, have resurrected those trade talks and are again in serious discussions, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night that former teammates Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge have revived a deal that would end Garnett's 12-season association with Minnesota by sending him to Ainge's Celtics, with the Wolves getting back two of the assets McHale coveted most last month: Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract.
The deal, however, depends on Garnett softening his stance on playing in Boston, with sources indicating late Sunday that Garnett could be warming to the idea.
Garnett effectively blocked the Celtics' first attempt at trading for him by making it clear, through agent Andy Miller, that he would opt out of the final year of his contract -- which is worth $23 million -- and leave the Celtics in the summer of 2008 because he doesn't want to play there. Unless it wants to part with the blossoming Jefferson for a one-year KG rental, Boston has to have a strong indication that it can keep Garnett long-term before making the trade.
But Garnett might now be amenable to the move, after the fiercely loyal 31-year-old learned how far along the Wolves were in negotiations with Boston in June ... and with the Celtics responding to the breakdown of its initial KG pursuit by trading the fifth overall pick in the draft to Seattle for All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen.
Expensive as it would be, Celtics management is understandably salivating at the prospect of teaming Garnett with Allen and franchise mainstay Paul Pierce.
It's believed that the latest incarnation of the deal would require Boston to package Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair with Jefferson and Ratliff in exchange for Garnett. It's also likely that other players and/or draft picks would be added to the package if the deal gets Garnett's signoff.
Miller could not be reached Sunday night. When the first round of Wolves-Celtics talks went public at draft time, Miller told ESPN.com: "If a trade were to happen, that's not a destination that we're interested in pursuing."

 

[Folster]

Fox is reporting it as almost done.

KG To Boston Almost Done?

The on-again, off-again deal with the Boston Celtics acquiring Kevin Garnett apparently is back on.
According to sources, the current deal on the table has the 6-foot-11 Garnett heading to Boston and the Celtics dealing away Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff's hefty expiring contract and Rajon Rondo. There may also be other players and draft picks involved. It's not quite done, but three industry sources — including one close to the Celtics — told FOXSports.com that it's extremely close and could become official within the next 48 hours.
"It's basically done," one source said. "If it does happen, this will make the Celtics relevant again."
Celtics boss Danny Ainge attempted to trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves star forward prior to the NBA Draft, but the 31-year-old perennial All-Star had no interest in heading to Boston.
However, things may have changed now that Ainge and the Celtics pulled off the draft day deal with Seattle for Ray Allen.
There have been numerous discussions during the last week between Ainge and Wolves vice president Kevin McHale, who are good friends dating back to their days playing together on the Celtics.
Garnett has the option to get out of his contract — which pays $22 million next season — after the 2008 campaign and become a free agent. He averaged 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season — his 12th in the NBA.

Garnett is a 10-time NBA All-Star and was the league's MVP in 2004. He is also one of the better defensive players in the NBA.
The deal would give Ainge a team that could compete with anyone in the Eastern Conference with the trio of Paul Pierce, Garnett and Allen. The Celtics would also have nearly $60 million in salaries between the three players for next season alone.
The Wolves would get one of the league's top young players in the 22-year-old Jefferson, who averaged 16 points and 11 boards in 69 games a year ago, and a second-year point guard in Rondo with plenty of potential. They would also get Ratliff's $11.7 million salary, which will come off the books after this season.

 

[Cheesebeef]

a Pierce/Allen/KG combo is a shoe-in for the Finals. Stern's wet dream would be to have the run and gun Suns against the hallowed star studded Celtics would be the highest rated series since Barkley-MJ.

 

[Gee!]

He looks thrilled..

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[HooverDam]

I hope this happens, the league needs Boston to be good after being down for so long. I'd love to see Pierce, Allen and KG together.

EDIT: Also, a Suns vs Celtics finals would be awesome. The Suns could avenge their previous loss to the Celtics, and Amare vs KG, Pierce vs Marion, Allen vs Raja, that would be fun.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I hope this happens, the league needs Boston to be good after being down for so long. I'd love to see Pierce, Allen and KG together.

i'm kinda thinking the same thing. I hate that the East is so pathetic. it makes the NBA just feel like a JV league.

 

[Folster]

I think that Celtics team would beat us. Putting Allen and Pierce on a team with a bonafide low post threat in Garnett who demands double teams is scary. Allen always seemed to torch us, even when he garnered the focus of being his team's number one option and had Raja in his jock. Point guard play would be the x-factor for that team. I just think the combo of KG, Allen, and Pierce would be too much for us.

San Antonio could beat them because either Pierce or Allen would be taken away by the refs allowing Bowen to cheat.

 

[Griffin]

So the Celtics are close to acquiring Garnett by offering pretty much the sort of assets (expiring contracts, draft picks, Rondo) that the Suns have given away in order to reduce payroll.

 

[green machine]

So the Celtics are close to acquiring Garnett by offering pretty much the sort of assets (expiring contracts, draft picks, Rondo) that the Suns have given away in order to reduce payroll.

Umm...the Suns don't have an Al Jefferson to offer. That's the key.

 

[Statmaster]

If Boston gets KG...it might be the "Big Ticket" to the Finals.....maybe against us....if we can get some interior help to first get past SA & the West. I wonder if we are strong enough inside also...like Folster says....they would be very strong with KG's leadership & skills, shooter like Ray & their own "Mr. Do-It-All" Pierce.

I still think we need a serious inside presence like Camby for tough cases like these....SA, the other Western playoff teams & maybe even Boston w/ KG.

Maybe somehow we still get KG....now or later....but if I'm Danny Ainge right now I'm having sweet dreams of KG in Green not in orange & purple. This should be very interesting to follow...now and to see if he is traded if they get an extension done for him or not. If not....we still have a shot!

In any case....if this does happen...."Well Done Celtics!""

 

[Griffin]

Umm...the Suns don't have an Al Jefferson to offer. That's the key.

You are right. We don't really have any players like Jefferson, at least contract-wise.

On the other hand, we did trade away the #7 pick in the draft where Jefferson was taken #15. And the pick we got in return we traded to get Kurt Thomas, who we just traded away with two more first round picks. Not to mention we traded Rondo for a pick that we sold. We don't have an asset like Jefferson (or even Rondo) because we haven't been drafting any players for years.

 

[pokerface]

I think that Celtics team would beat us. Putting Allen and Pierce on a team with a bonafide low post threat in Garnett who demands double teams is scary. Allen always seemed to torch us, even when he garnered the focus of being his team's number one option and had Raja in his jock. Point guard play would be the x-factor for that team. I just think the combo of KG, Allen, and Pierce would be too much for us.

San Antonio could beat them because either Pierce or Allen would be taken away by the refs allowing Bowen to cheat.

"bonafide low post threat in Garnett"

Garnett is NOT a low post beast...a mere threat more like. KG is not a bruiser down low...no way.

 

[Joe Mama]

You are right. We don't really have any players like Jefferson, at least contract-wise.

On the other hand, we did trade away the #7 pick in the draft where Jefferson was taken #15. And the pick we got in return we traded to get Kurt Thomas, who we just traded away with two more first round picks. Not to mention we traded Rondo for a pick that we sold. We don't have an asset like Jefferson (or even Rondo) because we haven't been drafting any players for years.

Okay, okay we get it. Everybody knows the Phoenix Suns screwed up when they traded that #7 draft pick. The Boston Celtics also have something else, and that's a huge budget. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and KG will make just about $60 million per season together for at least the next couple seasons.

With KG's lock, Ray Allen and/or Paul Pierce will be injured the entire time if this goes down.

I do agree with those of you who said this would be good for the league. Watching most of the Eastern conference games these days is borderline unbearable.

Joe

 

[Black Jesus]

we have barbosa contract wise. Barbosa, Banks, Atl Pick and Marion would get it done...

Nash
Bell
Hill
KG
Amare

Maybe best starting lineup of all time. 3 NBA first teamers, 2 mvos, 2 all defensive team, 2 7 footers... it would be nasty.

 

[Brianellsworth]

i really do not want to start talking about a suns KG trade again so lets just keep it to the boston KG trade

 

[asudevil83]

we have barbosa contract wise. Barbosa, Banks, Atl Pick and Marion would get it done...

Nash
Bell
Hill
KG
Amare

Maybe best starting lineup of all time. 3 NBA first teamers, 2 mvos, 2 all defensive team, 2 7 footers... it would be nasty.

the suns are in absolutly no position to make any sort of offer for Garnett

they gave away a pick and Jones for nothing
they gave away KT and 2 picks for nothing

this team would have NO bench at all.

and they'd have no picks next year either. and that would mean only 1 first rounder in the past 4 seasons or something completely ridiculous like that.

 

[azirish]

The Wolves wanted a serious inside guy back in any trade they were going to do. That would mean Jefferson, Stoudemire, or one or two of the Hawks bigs. The Suns weren't willing to bite.

 

[HooverDam]

God shut up w/ the KG to Phoenix junk, its not happening, get over it.

I think its a lot more fun to talk about something that might actually happen, like KG to Boston. Now, would the KG lead Celts beat the Suns? Im not sure, I think the Suns would have the edge.

You have KG vs Amare, edge goes to Boston. Pierce vs Marion, edge goes to Boston due to Marions playoff disappearance, Allen vs Bell, again, edge to Boston. However, that doesn't say anything about the Suns best player, Steve Nash, he's the X factor here.

Then you have to ask yourself, who'd you rather have: Grant Hill, Barbosa and Diaw or whoever the Celts will have on their bench (its hard to say since we don't know which pieces they are sending to Minny). The Suns bench is short but talented, the Celts bench will be extremely young.

 

[Covert Rain]

Who wants to put odds out that somehow someway Phoenix gets thrown in the mix rumor wise before a deal goes down?

Bet it's reported by ESPN too.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

God shut up w/ the KG to Phoenix junk, its not happening, get over it.

I think its a lot more fun to talk about something that might actually happen, like KG to Boston. Now, would the KG lead Celts beat the Suns? Im not sure, I think the Suns would have the edge.

You have KG vs Amare, edge goes to Boston. Pierce vs Marion, edge goes to Boston due to Marions playoff disappearance, Allen vs Bell, again, edge to Boston. However, that doesn't say anything about the Suns best player, Steve Nash, he's the X factor here.

Then you have to ask yourself, who'd you rather have: Grant Hill, Barbosa and Diaw or whoever the Celts will have on their bench (its hard to say since we don't know which pieces they are sending to Minny). The Suns bench is short but talented, the Celts bench will be extremely young.

You sound like you have a slight problem, wanna talk about it?

 

[fordronken]

If this trade goes down, the Celtics wouldn't be able to beat the Suns in a 7 game series. They have a worse bench and a worse starting five. Nash would go to town on their opposing point guards, Kendrick Perkins would have to guard a certain amount of Amare Stoudemire (good luck!) and then there's the biggest problem: the Celtics coach is Doc Rivers. So unless they have a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter, they wouldn't be able to close out the games.

 

[elindholm]

The Suns aren't going to the Finals next season, so it really doesn't matter what's happening over in the other conference.