NBA - Sports Rumors

Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:01 pm EDT

Garnett will not force trade

By Michael Hurd

Kevin Garnett

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Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Garnett dismissed the notion that he would try and escape Minnesota for a ready-made championship team. He has played his entire 12-year career in Minnesota, and he dismissed the notion that he would try and force a trade to a playoff-caliber team.

"People always expect that because, number one, it sells papers," Garnett said. "Let's keep it real. The (salary cap) dollars are there. When you are dealing with the kids who came to the NBA from high school we take pride in the opportunity we have been given. (Lakers' star) Kobe (Bryant) has been fortunate to stay in L.A., and hopefully (Cleveland's) LeBron (James) will be fortunate to stay where he is. Hopefully, I can stay here and make this right."

Source: Florida TodayNew Window

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324 Comments

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  1. T-Hard
    1. Posted by T-Hard Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    I hope that Minnesota does the right thing and get this man the players that he and the team need to get this man to thhe next level!! He may go down as one of the best players to never play for a championship. Get this man some help!!
  2. notgnirracnwahsar
    2. Posted by notgnirracnwahsar Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Some changes at the top has to be made before T-Wolves win in the playoffs. KG will decide to opt out. A champion like himself needs a championship. I give him 2 years to move out under the T-Wolves organization.
  3. chadr
    3. Posted by chadr Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    this is the hardest workin man in the NBA and has nothing to show for it. they need to get this guy some helpbig time. and i also respect him for sticking through it.
  4. peterispurple
    4. Posted by peterispurple Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    Why would he wants to leave man hes making $20 million a season? They just needs to get my brother some more brothers who know how to ball.
  5. Gimy
    5. Posted by Gimy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    so basically, he doesn't like winning? ok, good to know. half of it is hometown love for the Minny fans...and the other half seems to be his unwillingness to lead a team. he's had that monkey on his back since he started, "can't lead his team in the playoffs", and i think its scared him away from achieving the ultimate prize. kinda sad. if he stays with the Sota Timberwolves...he'll never sniff the second round in the west, let alone a chance at the finals. sad...he's one of the best overall players in the game. you're more than welcome to come to Chitown and secure a finals appearance for the next 5 years KG...up to you. in reality, ANYBODY from the East who would get him would be vaulted into contender status...
  6. thulke13
    6. Posted by thulke13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    yes garnett needs players around him and he is getting older where he will not be the guy in winning a championship. he will be a big part of it but the only way the t-wolves have a chance is to is by getting mchale out of mn
  7. Fe A
    7. Posted by Fe A Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    I salute you son for being so faithful to your team and i'm very proud of you!though you don't know me but i've known you since my son eric has been your fan! he started playing bball in his elementary years and it was you his idol! ! !but i tell you one thing, the people who loves you (we can't say just fans)wants also that after all these 12 long years, you have something in the history! that you also got a ring.we don't want to hear thatwords "a great player but no champion ring" . but it was you to decide i am from the philippines
  8. Scudworth
    8. Posted by Scudworth Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    Seems like Garnett and the T'Wolves would be best served if they parted ways. His trade value is still very high, and there's a bumper crop of rookies set to enter the NBA this coming draft. The opportunity may not get any better...
  9. T
    9. Posted by T Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    KOBE AND KG sounds good together. I see a 3peat
  10. Create Wonders
    10. Posted by Create Wonders Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    You really want to know who K.G. needs.....Isiah Thomas.....just have K.G. produce a christmas list....give it to Isiah....and have Isiah with 40 accountants to remind him NOT go over the salary cap and Timberwolves be in the Finals baby!!
  11. A Yahoo! User
    11. Posted by A Yahoo! User Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:55 pm EDT

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    Obviously you guys do not know what you are talking about. he is staying with a winner like mchale. So, sorry to all you self proclaimed wanna be basketball genuises.
  12. John M
    12. Posted by John M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    KG should come play with the Hawks. Yeah Right!
  13. Fe A
    13. Posted by Fe A Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    i salute you "son" for being so faithful to this team, the management done nothing to give you a help! ! !you don't know me but i tell you one thing, that i don't treat myself and the other guys that send you advice as fans! we are the people who loves you and the only thing we want for you is "may you achieved the things that you really dreamed of" 'coz we also wants the same (the ring)
    it's b'coz of my son eric i've know you.in the early age of eric it was you his idol! he likes and play bball! we are from the philippines
  14. Wayne
    14. Posted by Wayne Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    KG a Laker....Not a chance...Maybe A Mav??Or a Sun..But Not A Laker.
  15. Matthew S
    15. Posted by Matthew S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    I love how everyone talks about KG going to LA. That will NEVER happen. KG will stay with the T-Wolves, we gave him a chance, and now he's going to stay with us. Mchale isn't the best GM, but he definetly isn't the worst. He's tried getting good players, we've just let go of some guys, chauncy and ray allen. KG is one of the few good big name players left in basketball. He's set for life as far as money goes, he shows loyalty, instead of just bolting when the situation doesn't look good, ex. "starbury".
  16. AnthonyVigs
    16. Posted by AnthonyVigs Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    He makes to much money to be traded... only way hes leaveing is if he opts out of his contract... and if he does i hope he comes to cleveland beacause what there doing to garnett is exactly what they are doing to lebron in cleveland...
  17. Jon
    17. Posted by Jon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    This guy is the class act of basketball. Works hard every night for a team that has no real chance of ever winning a title. They had a brief moment there a couple years back, but thats as lose as they will come. Its a shame but not every good hard working person is going to win a title. But, I don't think that you should leave to go play for a team just to get a ring. I would be more proud of staying with one team my entire career then to run off and play for the Suns just to win a title for one year and then retire. Stay a Wolve even though I would love to see him with my man Kobe in LA
  18. Donald B
    18. Posted by Donald B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    xxvirus44xx , you sound like a fool... KG is loyal to his team and his hometown! He'll opt out and never get a ring somewhere else and people will say he sold out to get a ring.... Lets put you in the same situation as KG and see if you have the same out look! People always have an opinion when there on the outside looking in, until you can live the life of a ALL STAR NBA PLAYER you have no idea! KG will do the team and the community some good staying right here, build up the franchise and the players around him....He has lead the team to the western conference finals passing the ball and being a team player He is a living legend and a hall a Famer SHOW SOME RESPECT !!!
  19. rick c
    19. Posted by rick c Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    If he stays in minnesota... f- him!!!!... dont feel sorry for em... what a dumbass.. its gonna take atleast 4 years to rebuild that team.. by then he'll be 35.... wasted talent!!!!!!!..
    wasted talent!!!!!!!..
    wasted talent!!!!!!!..
    wasted talent!!!!!!!..
    wasted talent!!!!!!!..
  20. jimmy l
    20. Posted by jimmy l Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    personally I respect K.G's decision, but I know it's not good for him to stay in a team that's going nowhere in at least the next 3 years.
    As a Laker fan, K.G needs to get his butt over to L.A( not the clippers, DAH!!) can bring the Lakers a couple of rings before he retires
  21. OracleofDelphi
    21. Posted by OracleofDelphi Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    I am amazed at the fact that out of ignorance, there people who cannot appreciate what Toronto has done and will do this season. Before the start of this year, sport columnists said that Toronto, what with a new "Euro" roster and with a draft pick of a lanky funny named Bargnani will not deliver and as always will hug the dregs of the NBA. But these so called basketball-analysts are proven wrong and to their dismay will wake up to a terrible nightmare that the only NBA team outside of the US may win the Eastern Conference title this year. Tell you what, if the Maple Leafs Entertainment will invest the same amount of money they do for the perennial laughing stock Maple Leafs, the name Raptors will send shivers to the spine of the Spurs, the Suns and the Mavericks and Detroit. Get a good center to complement Bosh, like Magloire or Brad Miller and a good slasher to add variety to the fluid offense of the Raps like Gerald Wallace or Lewis and you will see Toronto becoming not the Phoenix Suns of the East but in my reckoning the Mavericks of the East - diverse in only one aspect: Wow...a team composed of the best guys from aorund the globe. Hail to You Chris Bosh, the Commander of this foreign Legion!
  22. trezz8
    22. Posted by trezz8 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    K.G. is a class act. He really is what the NBA needs right now. I have nothing but respect for the guy in a league of thugs. Loyal to his team, G.M. and the fans of Sota. But I don't buy the statement he deserves a ring. I am sick of hearing these overpaid athletes saying its all about the ring. Yeah right. Its all about the money and K.G. is getting plenty of it. The Twolves could put together a championship team and fairly quickly, if Kevin would restructure his deal (and who among us can blame him for not wanting to do that). Furthermore not much gets done on the team as far as signings without the Big Tickets consent. The way I've heard it all moves go through him. He may not have the final say, but he gets a say. Go Twolves.
  23. Alan R
    23. Posted by Alan R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    the twolfs are a bunch of lazy oberpaid prima donas.they care more about how they look than how they play,
  24. whatever
    24. Posted by whatever Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    him and wolves both did enough for each other. time to move on. why keep doing the same thing over and over again? to get the same result? seriously. it's time, KG. it's time.
  25. Guy L.
    25. Posted by Guy L. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    KG is obviously a class guy. To remain loyal to the T-Wolves after the way they've completely bungled up his chances of competing for a championship over the last couple of years says alot about the guy. The Wolves organization should do Garnett a big favor and find a competent G.M. (i.e. anyone but Kevin McHale) to build more of a win-now type of team.
    In just a couple of years KG's skills are going to inevitably decline and if the Wolves continue on the path they're on right now they won't be competing for anything but lottery picks over the next few years. It's now or never for Garnett and the T-Wolves organization - the "future" won't mean much if you waste all of KG's talent and don't at least TRY to win a championship while you have him.

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