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By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jun 22, 2007, 12:26
The trade talk surrounding the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett has come about for very different reasons. Kobe has been flip-flopping on the subject, but as of this writing he has a standing trade demand. The Lakers are unwilling to do much about it, preferring to continue to build around Kobe, but may have little choice if Bryant truly intends to pass on $90 million and simply sit out, as he has threatened. Yeah, somebody's making too much money - but that's another story.
Kevin Garnett isn't asking for a trade, and has staunchly stood by his position that he loves Minnesota and owes them his career because they took a chance on him straight out of high school. Yet the trade talk keeps circling around to KG. The reason is that most people realize the Timberwolves aren't close to being contenders, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that they're sending half of their payroll to Garnett every year.
The issue with both of these players is that there aren't many teams that can acquire them in trade and still have enough left on their roster to compete for a championship. The Lakers are looking for a team's best two players in trade, and there aren't many teams in the NBA that can trade their best two players and still be competitive, even with Bryant. The Timberwolves are really just window shopping at this point, happy to keep KG in place for another season, but they understand their window with Garnett is probably open until next February's trade deadline. It's just not fair to keep a player of Garnett's talent tied up in a losing situation for the rest of his career.
But where can you send him without creating a situation exactly like the one in Minnesota via the trade?
The answer is Phoenix.
Back at the trade deadline the Suns were talking to teams about Amare Stoudemire. Head coach Mike D'Antoni liked his team better while Amare was out following knee surgery, and he didn't appreciate that Amare came back with a chip on his shoulder. Amare wants everyone to think of the Suns as his team, but with perennial MVP Steve Nash running the show it ain't gonna happen. The Suns were a faster, more explosive team while Amare was out, and D'Antoni would like to see what Phoenix can get in trade that would make them ever faster. There is some debate among the media about whether or not the Suns are still looking to deal Amare, as Shawn Marion appears to be the top choice to trade this summer. Either way, the Suns could send a superstar and another strong talent somewhere and still have a hell of a team in place. The Spurs have shown that the winning formula is having three top-tier talents committed to a team system. Exchanging KG for Amare creates the potential for that in Phoenix.
Kevin Garnett alongside Nash and Stoudemire? Or how about Garnett alongside Nash and Marion? That's a team fans would turn out in drove to see - and they might even be a team that could challenge the San Antonio Spurs for NBA supremacy. Garnett's passing ability would make the Suns' transition game even more effective, and that's a scary thought.
If Kobe and/or Garnett are to change teams, they have to go to teams that have a tremendous amount of talent left in reserve after the deal is complete. The Suns are the obvious choice for KG - if he gets traded at all - but where does Kobe land? More than likely he winds up in a similar situation next season, just with a different team. The Lakers, meanwhile, would be better off with three or four quality pieces in place of one disgruntled superstar.
