NBA trade rumors: Could Kevin Garnett really get dealt?

But that could all disappear this offseason if Paul chooses to sign with a team besides the Clippers. The team knows that he’s everything to them, and will do whatever they need to ensure he remains in Los Angeles. That includes proving they’re legitimately dedicated to building a team capable of not just competing for, but actually winning NBA championships.

However, for all the trade deadline talk that goes into salary caps, team needs, and behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing, this trade could come down to the desires of two players: Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett. Some have indicated that Paul wants Garnett, and if he wants Garnett, the Clippers will apparently try to get Garnett, if Paul thinks it will make them more of a contender. But even if both teams agree on the deal, Garnett holds a no-trade clause. Garnett addressed that issue straight on, saying that he “bleeds green”, but the Clippers seem to believe that they can convince him to change his mind and waive his no-trade clause.

But what determines whether such a trade would be worth it for the Clippers depends on how much the Ticket can improve L.A. within the next couple of years.

But note that the Clips’ defense has actually been really good these season. It ranks No. 7 in the league, barely lagging the team’s No. 6 offense. According to NBA.com/stats, L.A.‘s defense has been particularly good after a day of rest, giving up 98.1 points per 100 possessions as opposed to 105 on the second game of a back-to-back. There will be no back-to-backs in the playoffs. As it the case with most teams, the bench’s defense has better numbers than do the starters -- a lot of that likely has to do with the competition.

As Jeff Clark over at CelticsBlog notes, Paul has leverage with the Clippers thanks to his impending free agent situation. So at the moment, what Paul wants, Paul gets, or at least the Clippers try to get it for him. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski essentially said as much in his latest column:

Paul has nothing but respect for Garnett and admits that he looked up to the veteran for a long time. That certainly sounds like a guy who would not mind if his team went out and tried to acquire said veteran big man. Whether Paul will pressure the Clippers to do so is another thing, but the point is, he could.

Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports tweeted Garnett’s full response, which was apparently one word:

Garnett is in the first year of a three-year, $34 million extension he signed with the Celtics in June 2012. He’s averaged 15.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 52 games so far this season.