Age and money are compelling reasons to trade Kevin Garnett. At 31, Garnett might play a couple more seasons at or near All-Star level but once players are in their 30’s it’s anyone’s guess how healthy and effective they will be. Garnett is the NBA’s top salaried player at over $20 million per season. He is over paid because other players like Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and LeBron James are more valuable. Plus, the guess is Garnett will still be looking for big bucks on his next contract when the current agreement ends in 2009.
If I am Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor I am scrambling to move Garnett. Garnett understandably could lose his passion for playing here when the franchise is mulling over how to show him the door. I doubt that Taylor, Garnett and vice president Kevin McHale are planning any summer outings where the three will gather around the campfire singing Kum Ba Yah.
Garnett has been frustrated here while playing for mostly mediocre teams. There’s a common plea among national media and fans to send him to a place where an NBA championship isn’t a long shot. The notion that the Wolves owe him this is nonsense. Garnett has been rewarded with record basketball compensation by the Wolves and treated with respect. What is likely to dictate a trade to a contender, though, if there is any deal, will be Garnett’s insistence on a championship destination.
Without a championship ring, Garnett will be remembered as another Karl Malone or Charles Barkley, two forwards who achieved similar NBA greatness. When the league rolls out its list of the 75 greatest players of all-time in 2021, Garnett will be on the roster and will be less favorably compared with fellow power forward Tim Duncan who has been a leader of four NBA championship teams.
Garnett’s greatness as one of his era’s best players is exemplified by his league record stats of most consecutive seasons (six) averaging 20 plus points, 10 plus rebounds, and five assists; his four consecutive seasons leading the NBA in rebounds; selection to 10 all-star games and recognition eight times on all-NBA teams. As perhaps the most versatile 7 footer ever to play basketball, Garnett accomplished all of that over a 12 year period.
The next several years will not be nearly as productive and unless some extraordinary veterans are about to drop out of the sky, land at Target Center and help KG, it’s time to find a travel ticket for the Big Ticket.