Kevin Garnett
Tale of the tape: The 36-year-old, 6’11”, 220 lb. Garnett averages 17.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, shooting 50.2% from the field with an identical effective field goal percentage and an 18.7 PER. With Celtics guard Rajon Rondo out for the season with a torn ACL, there is speculation that Boston may want to blow up their roster.
Contract: Garnett is owed $24 million over this and next season, and has a $12 million option ($6 million guaranteed) for the 2014-15 season. Garnett is also one of the few players in the league with a no-trade clause.
Roundtable:
Justin DeFeo: Let’s see: would a hyper-competitive team-first elite defender that also happens to be a ferocious leader fit with this team? Of course! You don’t think twice when the opportunity to acquire Kevin Garnett arises, so I’d pull the trigger in a heartbeat. Can the Brooklyn Nets realistically acquire him? That’s a different story. If I’m Billy King I’d throw whatever asset I could at the Celtics (not including Deron, Joe or Brook) and hope there is some interest, although not sure the Nets have pieces the C’s desire.
Mark Ginocchio: I want to give the same answer here as I did with Gasol, but there’s something strangely enticing about KG. It’s like a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Honey Nut Cheerios loaded with defensive intensity and intangible leadership skills that the Brooklyn Nets sorely need in their frontcourt right now.
John Hood: Good fit. Much like when the Celtics acquired Garnett and Ray Allen, the Brooklyn Nets would have a strong shot at a title this season. Garnett would be able to move back to his natural position at power forward and stretch the floor for Lopez. It is unlikely that the Celtics would trade KG to someone in their own division, but the Nets do have the pieces to make it worthwhile for the C’s to send KG to Brooklyn.
Will Rausch: Kevin Garnett. Every possible big man configuration is exciting. Garnett/Lopez? Yes please. Garnett/Evans? The facial expressions alone are worth it. Garnett/Blatche? Just imagine Blatche running point center and hitting KG for a slam and scream. Sounds great, right? Now it is time to wake up and remember that the Brooklyn Nets don’t have the cap flexibility to take on the contracts the Celtics would want to shed in any KG deal and the fact that Garnett has a no trade clause. Then again, with KG, impossible is nothing.
Max Weisberg: Ah, Kevin Garnett. Even though the future Hall of Famer is 36 years old, he is still one of the games most ferocious leaders. He would be a perfect fit on this Brooklyn Nets team. But there are multiple issue in trying to acquire him. Would the Celtics want to trade him to an in-division rival? Would the Celtics be looking to do a straight salary dump? How many first rounders would they want back? Would they want to unload some of their large and lengthy contracts in a potential deal? Do the Nets have the assets/are they willing to give up the assets for a 36 year old player with 2 more years left on his deal? Would Garnett waive his no-trade clause? Too many questions and unlikely scenarios for KG to wind up in Brooklyn.
Full List:
Paul Millsap
Josh Smith
Pau Gasol
Andrea Bargnani
Dwight Howard
Kevin Garnett
