Lakers in trade talks to get Garnett

Trade discussions involve sending Odom and Bynum for the Timberwolves star in a possible four-team deal. Bryant is not part of the possible trade.

By Mike Bresnahan

12:00 PM PDT, June 25, 2007

The owners of the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have begun talks for a trade that would involve sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers, league sources said Monday.

A multi-team trade discussion is underway involving the Lakers, Indiana, Minnesota and possibly a fourth team, with the Lakers getting Garnett and the Pacers getting Lamar Odom and teenage center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers. Another minor player will likely be added to make the deal work financially.

Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke by phone for 20 minutes Friday. Buss reportedly ended the conversation by suggesting that Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale would continue the discussion Monday.

Such a move could address the concerns of Kobe Bryant, who has demanded to be traded for more than four weeks.

Bryant met with Kupchak for about an hour Friday, a day after Garnett rejected a trade that would have sent him to Boston.

Bryant did not step down from his desire to be traded. However, Kupchak, Buss and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson met later that day to discuss options based on the assumption they would still have Bryant, The Times has learned.

Garnett, 31, has never formally asked for a trade while signaling his distress in recent years as the Timberwolves fell from top-notch status. The No. 1-seeded team in the Western Conference in 2004, they lost to the Lakers in the West finals and haven't made the playoffs since then.

The Timberwolves finished 33-49 in 2005-06 and 32-50 last season, tied for 12th in the West with Portland.

Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season. He wants an extension, which Buss reportedly told Taylor he was willing to offer. Garnett is due to earn $22 million next season and $23 million in 2008-09, the last year of his contract.

Garnett, a 10-time All-Star, averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocked shots last season while showing few signs of slowing down, other than spending the last five games of the season in Los Angeles — he has a home in Malibu — to rest a sore right quadriceps.

Bynum, 19, started his second NBA season with a flurry, including a memorable game against Minnesota in which he had 20 points,14 rebounds and three blocked shots last November.

But Bynum struggled during the second half of the season and finished with averages of 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. The Lakers have been criticized by Bryant for not trading Bynum at the February trade deadline in order to get Jason Kidd from New Jersey.

Odom, 27, was acquired three years ago as part of the trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Miami.

Odom averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season and missed 26 games because of knee and shoulder injuries. He had a torn labrum in his left shoulder repaired last month and is expected to return in time for training camp in October.

4 teams??... If the Pacers get Bynum and Odom, who is the hell are the Timbs getting? Sounds complicated, probably wont happen

Desperation attempt by the Lakers, nothing will come of this with exception that J.O. could land in L.A. and even that's a long shot.


Actually what's the over and under on how long it takes for J.O. to say he won't play in Minny.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 06-25-2007 3:25 PM]

Posted by TrueBlue:

I'd also like to say there is no way

Bird, Ainge, and McHale help the Lakers become a Dynasty again.

LOL, my thoughts actually.

The Lakers get KG
The Timberwolves get Al Jefferson and the no. 5 pick
The Celtics get JO
and the Pacers get Bynum and Odom

The Celts CANNOT give up Al Jefferson AND the #5 for JO (though technically it would end up in Minny's hands) UNLESS Minny gave the Celts their #7 pick (which they cannot do). Maybe the Lakers give up the #19 pick...the trade that involves Bynum, Odom and the #19 was for JO. We are talking about KG here.

This deal won't go through because of the fact that Boston will have to surrender Al and the #5. If anything Ratliff's exp deal, Al OR #5, gerald green and one of their many PG's (Telfair, Delonte, Rondo, Allan Ray) should go.

LA Trades: Odom, Kwame, Bynum, #19
LA Receives: KG, Brian Scalabrini

Boston Trades: Ratliff, Scalabrini, Gerald Green, Rondo & Big Al
Boston Receives: JO, Shawne Williams, David Harrison

Minny Trades: KG
Minny Receives: Big Al, #19 pick, Ratliff exp deal, Kwame exp deal ($20M in cap savings)

Indy Trades: JO, Shawne Williams, David Harrison
Indy Receives: LO, Bynum, Rondo and Gerald Green, assortment of 2nd rounders

Successful Scenario
Due to L.A. Lakers, Boston, Minnesota and Indiana being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. L.A. Lakers, Boston, Minnesota and Indiana had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

BOSTON SHOULD NOT TRADE THE #5 PICK!!! Minny kinda gets HOSED...they will need a future first round pick from LA, likely top 3 protected, possibly only top 2.

Celtics Exit Stage Left. That didn't take long


Lakers in trade talks to get Garnett

Trade discussions involve sending Odom and Bynum for the Timberwolves star in a possible deal. Bryant is not part of the proposed trade. By Mike Bresnahan and Mark Heisler, Times Staff Writers
3:38 PM PDT, June 25, 2007
The owners of the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have begun talks for a trade that would involve sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers, league sources said today.

The talks turned into discussions about a four-way deal among the Lakers, Minnesota, Indiana and Boston, in which the Lakers would have gotten Garnett. However, the deal broke down, reportedly because the Celtics didn't like what they would have gotten, ending the four-way negotiations.

The Lakers are now back to direct two-team talks with the Timberwolves. However, sources say, Minnesota General Manager Kevin McHale wants young players and high draft choices and isn't keen on the Lakers offer of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.

Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke by phone for 20 minutes Friday. Buss reportedly ended the conversation by suggesting that Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and McHale continue the discussion today.

Acquiring Garnett could address the concerns of Kobe Bryant, who has demanded to be traded for more than four weeks.

Bryant met with Kupchak for about an hour Friday, a day after Garnett rejected a trade that would have sent him to Boston.

Bryant did not step down from his desire to be traded. However, Kupchak, Buss and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson met later that day to discuss options based on the assumption they would still have Bryant, The Times has learned.

Garnett, 31, has never formally asked for a trade while signaling his distress in recent years as the Timberwolves fell from top-notch status. Minnesota, the No. 1-seeded team in the Western Conference in 2004, lost to the Lakers in the West finals and hasn't made the playoffs since then.

The Timberwolves finished 33-49 in 2005-06 and 32-50 last season, tied for 12th in the West with Portland.

Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season. He wants an extension, which Buss reportedly told Taylor he was willing to offer. Garnett is due to earn $22 million next season and $23 million in 2008-09, the last year of his contract.

Garnett, a 10-time All-Star, averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocked shots last season while showing few signs of slowing down, other than spending the last five games of the season in Los Angeles ? he has a home in Malibu ? to rest a sore right quadriceps.

Bynum, 19, started his second NBA season with a flurry, including a memorable game against Minnesota in November in which he had 20 points,14 rebounds and three blocked shots.

But Bynum struggled during the second half of the season and finished with averages of 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. The Lakers have been criticized by Bryant for not trading Bynum at the February trade deadline to get Jason Kidd from New Jersey.

Odom, 27, was acquired three years ago as part of the trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal to Miami.

Odom averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season and missed 26 games because of knee and shoulder injuries. He had a torn labrum in his left shoulder repaired last month and is expected to return in time for training camp in October.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com