The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a trade deadline shocker when they traded for franchise icon Kevin Garnett, who left the team under bitter circumstances in 2007 and went on to seek glory in Boston. Now KG is returning for a far more joyous homecoming -- or is it farewell? -- than anyone could have ever imagined.
Will Kevin Garnett’s homecoming end well?
Or will it be the best thing that could have happened to him and the Timberwolves?
Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports
What could possibly go wrong? FLANNS & ZILLZ react.
ZILLER: This is great. He can reconnect with Minneapolis' great basketball fans, enjoy some more time with Flip Saunders and Sam Mitchell and maybe teach Andrew Wiggins a few tricks. What's not to like?
FLANNERY: I’m skeptical. And I hate being skeptical because KG is the one athlete I refuse to be cynical about. I’ve always felt you were either all the way in or all the way out on Garnett and I’m a true believer. I will defend him to the death.
But this strikes me as a rather cheap ploy to sell tickets during what looks like a very long rebuild. I’m honestly surprised he went for it.
ZILLER: That KG went for it makes me hope it's not just a nostalgic whim. As you've pointed out, KG hates change and had to be sold hard on the Nets trade. That this situation was a pretty basic affair leads me to assume KG felt good about Flip's intentions.
KG’s dream of purchasing the Wolves is the most interesting angle of this.
FLANNERY: I’m sure the talk an of extension didn’t hurt either. And I get the concept. You have a young team with impressionable kids who need a locker room leader. I’ve never been around anyone who commanded as much respect among players on his own team as KG. You really have to experience it to understand. He doesn’t just tell you how to act, he shows you every single day. It’s your choice. You can follow or you can ignore him. Those that follow are with him forever. Those that don’t may as well not even exist.
And that’s one of my issues here. It’s far easier to be that guy when you are THE GUY. How’s that going to play when you’re getting 15-20 minutes a night?
As for the ownership angle, I’m not sure what to make of that yet. KG has buried the hatchet with Kevin McHale, but how is his relationship with Glen Taylor? That was an acrimonious departure, to say the least. Franchisees, as you like to call them, aren’t exactly in the habit of bring on employees as partners.
ZILLER: It's totally fair to wonder if a near-retirement role player can have a meaningful locker room impact. Mitchell and Terry Porter had big roles when KG cut his NBA teeth alongside them. It's an issue.
Perhaps some of us are overly excited by this result based solely on the fact that KG's twilight was heretofore looking so sad. This at least provides a chance for a career end befitting a legend like KG. One that Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki are both receiving. We were getting nothing but solemnity and ennui in Brooklyn.
FLANNERY: I won’t argue that. Brooklyn was/is depressing as hell and I’m glad he’s out of there.
I randomly have a bunch of friends from Minnesota -- Boston is like 'Sota East only with a worse public transit system -- and they're thrilled about this. I'm not going to take that away from them. I want to believe in KG. I want to believe in happy endings and fairy tales. Then I remember that Duncan and Dirk received far more support in their careers than Garnett ever did (Celtics years notwithstanding) and that in alternate universe KG would have won a half-dozen titles if he had been drafted by a better organization.
Maybe that’s what’s holding me back from fully embracing this. KG’s not about that sentimental life.
ZILLER: That’s totally fair. It would be unfortunate -- or perhaps the word is “dishonest” -- if this happy ending distracted us from the truth that KG was more or less wasted throughout his peak by this franchise owner and, to a smaller extent, this coach. (The blame primarily goes on Kevin McHale’s head.) Perhaps if KG can compartmentalize the failure of the old regime and the sentimental joy of this current phase, it’ll work out. Otherwise, the entire thing will just come off as bittersweet.
Andrew Wiggins is a player MVP-era KG really could have used.
FLANNERY: But he’s not MVP-era KG anymore. Best case, he has fun with it and teaches the young bucks a few tricks. Worst case: Iverson’s return to Philly.
ZILLER: Thanks for the nightmares.
FLANNERY: Is this where I point out the Wolves traded a future first to get Thaddeus Young, who they they traded for a guy 10 years older, and then offered that guy a contract extension?
ZILLER: As the adage goes, a Timberwolf never changes its stripes. Or something.
FLANNERY: Those are my objections, your honor. I will continue to put my faith -- blind though it may be -- on Garnett’s ability to look Father Time in the eye and kick his ass when need be. I will never doubt that man. I will, however, remain skeptical of the Wolves.
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