Trade KG? Forget about it, Taylor says
Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune
November 23, 2005
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Timberwolves are not going to trade Kevin Garnett.
Not this week, not this month, not this season.
Not now and, if it were entirely up to Wolves owner Glen Taylor, not ever.
“I have no plans on trading him at least through this contact,’’ Taylor said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I’d like to say through life. But I’ll just say through this contract, because then there are things you can’t always control.’’
Garnett, the Wolves’ eight-time NBA All-Star, is signed through the 2008-09 season.
At the risk of spoiling Internet fun nationwide, sapping content from sports talk radio shows and forcing NBA columnists to mix in a few facts, Taylor felt it was worthwhile to state definitively that Garnett — the primary reason to pay attention to the Wolves for the past decade — would continue to play in Minnesota.
Garnett’s TNT interview last week, studio analyst Charles Barkley’s comments afterward (“They need to trade him’’) and the Wolves’ presumed drop from contender to playoff hopeful immediately sparked rumors that talks to deal the 2004 MVP winner were ongoing and serious.
Speculation swirled in newspapers and on websites that Detroit, New York, New Jersey and Golden State, among others, had discussed potential deals for the Wolves’ franchise player.
“I don’t think anybody has called us,’’ Taylor said. “I should say, I’m not aware of any actual team calling us. We’ve gotten lots of calls from media.’’
And the Wolves, through vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale, general manager Jim Stack or anyone else, have placed no calls dangling Garnett? “Absolutely not,’’ the owner said.
Taylor repeated his comment from Thursday, when an irritated Garnett spoke to TNT’s Cheryl Miller about the Wolves’ failed ambitions last season, that the player never has asked to be traded.
“Kevin gets frustrated,’’ Taylor said. “But in the long run, he says, 'No, I anticipate being here. We’re going to work things out through the long run.’ … The fans hear rumors and get nervous, and even Kevin gets nervous. But no one has to worry.’’
As for the notion that Taylor might soon trade Garnett so the 7-footer can win an NBA championship somewhere else, the owner said: “I’m more likely to spend the money it takes to get it here.’’ At about $61 million this season, down from $71 million in 2004-05, the Wolves have dropped from the league’s top five in payroll to No. 15.
Taylor also noted the difficulty of getting fair value for a highly compensated star; Garnett, after this season, is due $66 million over the final three years of his deal. Good teams, Taylor said, are capped out and would have to give up valuable players in return. “And Kevin wouldn’t want to go to the bad teams,’’ he said.
Before hanging up, in case anyone missed it, Taylor said one more time: “I can tell you, definitely, we are not trading KG.’’
I don't understand the internet and TV rumors going around that Garnett will be traded. Why would he be traded? The team doesn't want to trade him and Garnett doesn't want to be traded. That doesn't sound like a recipe of a trade to me, does it?
A lot of Minnesota fans have been under attack on message boards during the past week or so. The Garnett rumors are picking up steam and that's when Glen Taylor (Timberwolves owner) decided to speak out about the Garnett rumors. I think this article should get as much press as the "un-named sources" trade rumors. ESPN.com even had Garnett up there going to the Knicks. What the hell? Fans are foaming at the mouth for Garnett and an article like this would just spoil their fun.
Oh well, enjoy.
