CHICAGO TRIBUNE:

So is he staying in minny, then?

"I can remember Kirb always saying, 'Man, it's about winning and making sure you're happy,'" Garnett said. "One of the things I took from him was [to] always respect winning. I would love to stay—that's my plan. But it's got to be within the boundaries of winning."

Garnett lives in Malibu, Calif. He has an escape clause in his contract after next season. My guess is he uses it, even with $23 million left for one season, and joins Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom on the Lakers.

It looks as if the Lakers have a young center find in Andrew Bynum, off The way he has played so far. Garnett will be 32 then and in perfect position to be an ideal supporting piece. The Lakers could give him a long-term contract because their payroll would be shrinking by then. They've had a great start, but you figure they're treading water.

It seems as if Garnett will play out this season in Minnesota, and then they'll face the question of whether to try to trade him and get something or risk losing him after next season. It won't be the first management mishap for the Timberwolves.

i think it would have to be a trade... something like Bynum, Kwame, Odom & a 1st round pick for KG.

Posted by TMS:

i think it would have to be a trade... something like Bynum, Kwame, Odom & a 1st round pick for KG.

why would LAL trade all of that for KG when they could just take a risk and wait a year for him to be a free agent?

Posted by martin:

Posted by TMS:

i think it would have to be a trade... something like Bynum, Kwame, Odom & a 1st round pick for KG.

why would LAL trade all of that for KG when they could just take a risk and wait a year for him to be a free agent?

why would KG leave $23 million dollars on the table to become a FA? i can't imagine KG would leave the TWolves in the lurch by opting out & leaving for greener pastures w/o them getting something good back in return... requesting a trade because he wants to win is fathomable.

Posted by martin:

Posted by TMS:

Posted by martin:

Posted by TMS:

i think it would have to be a trade... something like Bynum, Kwame, Odom & a 1st round pick for KG.

why would LAL trade all of that for KG when they could just take a risk and wait a year for him to be a free agent?

why would KG leave $23 million dollars on the table to become a FA? i can't imagine KG would leave the TWolves in the lurch by opting out & leaving for greener pastures w/o them getting something good back in return... requesting a trade because he wants to win is fathomable.

it would be calculated risk by KG, and I don't think he would leave $23 million on the table. That's like saying Shaq left $20M on the table when he moved from ORL to LAL.... he will get his millions by insuring that the team he wants to sign for has room under that cap, which I thought the article was suggesting.

the Lakers don't have the cap space in 08/09 to sign KG to that type of deal... they'd have to make it a sign & trade.

so you think he'll give up that money & sign for a contract in the neighborhood of $8-$10 mil per just to play alongside Kobe? i guess it's possible, but in my eyes VERY unlikely.