Could Kevin Garnett make his next run for an NBA title in Los Angeles and not Boston?
NBA trade rumors: Celtics, Clippers discussing Kevin Garnett trade
A deal involving the Celtics’ veteran big man could alter the NBA playoff landscape in both the Western and Eastern Conferences.
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
According to Adrian Wonjarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers have talked about the idea of moving KG to the Clippers for a pair of developing, yet dynamic young players in Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan.
With Rajon Rondo out for the season, the Celtics are involved in plenty of trade rumors despite their run of success leading up to the All-Star break. A deal involving KG would be made with Boston's long-term future in mind, while giving the Clips another veteran to make a run at the top teams in the West and an NBA championship this season.
But none of these talks matter unless Garnett says they matter. While KG’s contract has him making about $12 million per year through the 2014-15 season, it also includes a no-trade clause. Garnett has long insisted that he doesn’t want to be traded from Boston, but this Celtics season has shown how quickly and substantially circumstances can change in the NBA. Despite wielding a no-trade clause, KG could see this as a major opportunity late in his career.
KG remains one of the league’s best big men, averaging 15.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 30 minutes per game while playing some of the best defense in the league, making him a huge upgrade. Several factors, including his friendship with Chauncey Billups, make the Clippers a team for which Garnett could consider leaving Beantown.
In return, the Celtics would add some young talent to jump-start a rebuild-on-the-fly effort.. Bledsoe, 23, and Jordan, 24, would add both a back court and front court player with plenty of upside.
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