In a recent interview with Sports Headliners, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor discussed Kevin Garnett including his possible future with the team. Taylor includes Garnett, 30, among the best players in the league, and while he indicated his super star forward will remain with the team he didn’t say a trade is out of the question. Taylor also thinks Garnett can provide more team leadership.
The prospect of the Wolves missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season is extremely frustrating to Garnett and Taylor. Garnett has voiced some criticism about the franchise but hasn’t been outspoken and Taylor believes Garnett wants to remain a Timberwolf. Taylor’s opinion is based on a presumed buy-in from Garnett that the Wolves can build a better team around him soon, and that Garnett’s mega salary demands narrows the list of teams who could add him to their rosters and those teams may not be better than the Wolves on the court.
Taylor seems more interested in building around Garnett than trying to trade him. He talked about how trading Garnett could dictate adding three more young players in addition to Wolves rookies Randy Foye and Craig Smith, and second year player Rashad McCants. “Then you’re saying that’s a commitment for another few years if you’re going to do that,” Taylor said. “But we’ll look at all things. …”
Taylor values his relationship with Garnett. He and his group of investors took ownership of the franchise in 1995, the same year Garnett joined the team after being drafted out of high school. “I would say Kevin has been very up front with me and talks to me about all his feelings,” Taylor said. “When he is upset with something…he doesn’t hold back, he tells me. …”
How does Taylor assess Garnett? “There’s two parts,” he answered. “No. 1 is that without question you take just a handful of people (in the NBA) and Kevin is in that top group. Are there ways that Kevin could still do better? Team wise, other things wise? There’s still room for improvement on Kevin.”
Asked to be more specific, Taylor said if a team has problems coming together as a unit than the “leader of the team has some of that responsibility on their shoulders.” Taylor is looking for answers and everyone is accountable, particularly leaders in the organization. “I don’t think you can have a team that hasn’t lived up to its potential and just go around and say all that blame is on (vice president Kevin) McHale,” Taylor said. “I think that blame has got to be on a number of people who are in leadership. …I think KG will be challenged and looked to (to) improve and help bring along younger guys and stuff like that. I don’t think it’s a lack of effort on his part but I think it’s a learning experience.”
Taylor said one answer to improving team chemistry could be to add the type of player who can share a leadership role with Garnett.