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.’’

The #1 sign you could be traded: Your owner or GM says you'll never be traded!

“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.’’

He's the team owner and he doesn't even know whether or not he's talked to other teams about his franchise player??? This guy's media spin is terrible. He should take lessons from Isiah on media spin!

When a rumor starts about KG, you HAVE to make a call, even if your just going through the motions.

I think whether KG plays in Minnesota is more or less his decision--if he really wants to leave, they won't want to keep him.

Wait til they miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Even if it looks like they'll miss the playoffs in February, he'll very quietly be on the block. Just like Webber was last season.

Once again, I wouldn't give up Frye to get him.