Garnett to Sun Sun Land?

[JoMal]

An old rumor has once again become the newest Kevin Garnett scenario.

ESPN now is reporting that, since the Garnett to the Lakers trade has cooled down (anyone else glad they were sitting down to hear THAT news?), a trade involving the Wolves, Suns, and Celtics has once again heated up that would send Garnett to the Land Down Under. The rumored deal would send Garnett to the Suns, Shawn Marion to the Celtics, and the Celtics would send the Number Five pick in this year's draft and two players to Minnesota. The earlier rumor stated a similar deal that would have included Al Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair of the Celtics in that trade.

What happened to end the earlier deal was that Garnett was going to be traded to Boston, but he apparently did not want to go there. Once the Suns got into the three way deal, Marion stated the same misgivings about the Land of Bird. (Anyone else thinking how the mighty have fallen?). So why the renewed interest in this deal? It is contingent on convincing Marion that Boston Beans are a great laxative, apparently. That and the carrot stick of him getting a contract extension by going to Tea Town.

Back to the Lakers, (so, you know, people will actually respond to this post), the Garnett deal got scuttled by Timberwolves' owner Glen Taylor, who just decided to end negotiations. Which led Kupchek to restart his own dead deal - one that would bring Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal to the Lakers and hopefully shut the pie hole of their star stud.

[Lurker]

ESPN is reporting that the Hawks may be involved in a 3 way deal - adding some more high draft picks to the mix.

By Chad Ford and Marc Stein
ESPN.com

Updated: June 27, 2007, 10:05 AM ET

There was a growing sentiment around the league Tuesday night that the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes are nearing a conclusion and that the Phoenix Suns are the most likely winners, with two trade scenarios emerging that could potentially land Garnett in the desert by draft night.

With the Los Angeles Lakers' attempts to construct a multi-team deal or a direct trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves collapsing, ESPN's Jim Gray reports that talk of a potential three-team trade that would involve Minnesota, Boston and Phoenix has been rekindled, in which the primary cost to the Suns would be All-Star forward Shawn Marion moving to the Celtics.

Yet an even bigger trade concept, ESPN.com has learned, was hatched Tuesday by the Wolves, in which Phoenix would likely be asked to trade away the player it has been trying not to trade, All-NBA center Amare Stoudemire, who would go to the Atlanta Hawks.

Either way, indications from various NBA front-office sources suggest that Garnett being moved in conjunction with Thursday's draft looks more likely than ever before, with the Suns -- identified by ESPN.com last week as KG's first choice for a new home -- in prime position to make the big score.

In the scenario reported by Gray, Garnett would go to Phoenix, Boston would land Marion and the Wolves would receive a package featuring the No. 5 overall pick in Thursday's draft along with undisclosed players from the Celtics and Suns.

The key stumbling block for Boston would be Marion's reluctance to play for the Celtics, which sources say was conveyed to both teams last week when the idea of a three-team trade involving these clubs was first made public. With Marion possessing the right to opt out of his contract after next season and become a free agent in July 2008, Boston would undoubtedly be seeking assurances from Marion's camp that he's interested in signing an extension with the Celtics, even though league rules technically would preclude such negotiations until after July 1 (and after the trade).

Another possible stumbling block: Minnesota, sources say, has been adamant that any trade with Boston would include Al Jefferson. The Celtics, in turn, are willing to part with Jefferson only if they're the team that gets Garnett. It remains to be seen if either side softens its stance in the final hours before the draft.

In the newer trade scenario, sources say, Minnesota is looking to acquire Atlanta's No. 3 and No. 11 picks in the draft along with several cap-friendly contracts from the Hawks and Suns. To participate, Atlanta wants Stoudemire from Phoenix.

Such a trade would hold significantly greater appeal to Minnesota than any Celtics' offer that didn't include Jefferson. The Hawks, meanwhile, would be able to reunite Stoudemire with ex-Suns teammate Joe Johnson and immediately field a promising big-and-small core to build around and make Atlanta competitive, given the current state of the Eastern Conference.

The Suns, though, are understandably reluctant to part with Stoudemire after he made the All-NBA first team in what appears to be the most successful comeback from microfracture knee surgery that the NBA has ever witnessed.

The Lakers, meanwhile, haven't abandoned all hope of partnering Garnett with the increasingly frustrated Kobe Bryant just yet. Another concept in circulation Tuesday raised the possibility of a multi-team trade in which the Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal would go to Atlanta, with Lakers forward Lamar Odom and young center Andrew Bynum heading to the Pacers. That package, at worst, would send the No. 3 pick in the draft to Minnesota as the main payoff for Garnett.

But the Suns increasingly look like the favorites, given that Phoenix is Garnett's preferred destination if he has to leave the only NBA city he has ever known and with the Suns clearly possessing more trade assets. The Wolves are looking for a combination of high draft picks, top young talent and expiring contracts to provide cap relief. The Lakers don't have a draft pick higher than No. 19 to offer and Minnesota, sources say, is not interested in Odom because of the two years and nearly $28 million left on the lanky lefty's contract.

It's believed that the Suns will continue trying to keep Stoudemire out of any deal, but sources say that the athletically gifted 24-year-old is not untouchable -- not with the Wolves having finally made the philosophical commitment to end the Garnett Era after years of speculation and with Phoenix feeling as though there is no better player it could acquire to counter San Antonio's Tim Duncan, who is seen as the Suns' biggest obstacle to getting out of the Western Conference playoffs.

Sources say Minnesota, furthermore, clearly hopes to complete a Garnett trade before the draft begins in hopes of securing a pick in first half of the lottery to go with its own No. 7 selection. The fact that Wolves owner Glen Taylor left the country for China on Tuesday afternoon for his honeymoon doesn't appear to have slowed the Wolves down at all.

Yet it remains to be seen if the Hawks, who have been notoriously reluctant to make roster moves of any sort for months because of their uncertain ownership situation, will actually commit to join in on a trade of this magnitude.

In any case, it's a trade that, even without completion, has seemingly eclipsed one of the most anticipated drafts in years.

[westkoast]

Yea I just read the Lakers deal was dead because the Wolves don't feel Bynum has enough potential and the Lakers 19th pick is not far enough down the list.  Makes sense.  I said in the other thread why I didnt think it would work.

And for the record JoMaL it isn't just to close the pie hole of their star player but the pie hole of every single fan who watches the Lakers and has to pay 30 bucks to see 700 feet away from the court.

Getting the 3 and 11 picks sound much better for the Wolves in the long run so that makes much more sense.  If they are going to get rid of Garnett they are saying 'we are starting from scratch' and only drafts will really get them what they want for a longer period of time.

[JoMal]

And for the record JoMaL it isn't just to close the pie hole of their star player but the pie hole of every single fan who watches the Lakers and has to pay 30 bucks to see 700 feet away from the court.

Shutting the one goes a long way in dealing with the other.

And haven't you LaLa Landers ever heard of Magoo glasses?

[Skandery]

I'm thinking this deal is looking very likely.  If it does happen, Minnesota is getting 2 lottery picks and a used condom--I AM right though, Zaza does get more rebounds than Mark Blount. 


===============================================================================
Timberwolves talking three-way Garnett deal
 
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
June 27, 2007

NEW YORK – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett is close to going to the Phoenix Suns in a monumental three-way trade that would send Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire to the Atlanta Hawks, league sources said Wednesday.

Atlanta would move the Nos. 3 and 11 picks in Thursday's draft, as well as Zaza Pachulia and Anthony Johnson, to Minnesota to the Timberwolves.

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor has delivered a mandate to his basketball executives to get a deal done, one league executive said.

Yahoo! Sports has learned that the trade would also save the Hawks from an emerging showdown between the front office and coaching staff over whom to draft with the third pick. The front office and coaching staff had settled on Florida power forward Al Horford, but a faction of the Atlanta Spirit ownership group, with business interests in China, is pushing them to take Yi Jianlian.
 
The deal hinges on Atlanta general manager Billy Knight saying yes, as well Hawks ownership, which is mired in lawsuits, being willing to increase payroll. It is believed that star Hawks guard Joe Johnson talked to his former Suns teammate on Tuesday, and that the 24-year-old Stoudemire, a first-team All-NBA choice, told him that he'd welcome the trade.

 

[jn]

While KG's departure would be tough to take as a Wolves fan, this is unquestionably the best possible deal I have heard about.  IMHO this trade would clarify the number 3 pick.  The Wolves would HAVE to take Horford in order to get some rebounding in the lineup. 

[rickortreat]

If I am the Suns there's no way I do this deal.  Give up Stoudemire? Who is younger and every bit as athletic as Garnett?  Why?

I like KG, but he's not a better answer to Duncan than Amare.  He's also older and on the downside of his career, while Amare is young, and hopefully heeled from his knee problems seems like the better long term play.

This is too much for the Suns to give up, just to get KG.  It is hard to get fair value for a player- look at Philly with Iverson and Webber.  Now, KG isn't the head-case that either of those players was, but why the only reason to pony up a player is to get the deal.

Some trades can break a team as much as make one.  The Suns were very good this year, and were the closest to giving the Spurs a challenge.  The Suns should go after Fabs and then they will be the champs without having to sacrifice Amare!
 

[westkoast]

If I am the Suns there's no way I do this deal.  Give up Stoudemire? Who is younger and every bit as athletic as Garnett?  Why?

I like KG, but he's not a better answer to Duncan than Amare.  He's also older and on the downside of his career, while Amare is young, and hopefully heeled from his knee problems seems like the better long term play.

This is too much for the Suns to give up, just to get KG.  It is hard to get fair value for a player- look at Philly with Iverson and Webber.  Now, KG isn't the head-case that either of those players was, but why the only reason to pony up a player is to get the deal.

Some trades can break a team as much as make one.  The Suns were very good this year, and were the closest to giving the Spurs a challenge.  The Suns should go after Fabs and then they will be the champs without having to sacrifice Amare!
 

They may be just as athletic but KG is a better all around game and Amare has ego issues apparently.  I had not heard about them till this year but I guess Amare/Shawn Marion have problems with each other.  The media always makes it an ego issue when it involves a star player but is it possible they just don't get along?    Sometimes personalities conflict regardless.

However you are right.  FIrst of all the Suns are pretty good as it is.  Second I don't think KG is the answer for Duncan.  He never has been.  Not quite sure why he would be all the sudden.  Especially if you consider exactly how much defense he will have to play as the anchor on the PHX Suns non-existent defense.

If the Suns pull the trigger on the trade they are pretty much saying "There is no way in hell we can win a championship unless we do it in the next 2 years while Nash is still at the top of his game"  They were so close this past year that it doesn't make sense to me to give up a young franchise player for an aging franchise player. 

[Lurker]

If I am the Suns there's no way I do this deal.  Give up Stoudemire? Who is younger and every bit as athletic as Garnett?  Why?

I like KG, but he's not a better answer to Duncan than Amare.  He's also older and on the downside of his career, while Amare is young, and hopefully heeled from his knee problems seems like the better long term play.

This is too much for the Suns to give up, just to get KG.  It is hard to get fair value for a player- look at Philly with Iverson and Webber.  Now, KG isn't the head-case that either of those players was, but why the only reason to pony up a player is to get the deal.

Some trades can break a team as much as make one.  The Suns were very good this year, and were the closest to giving the Spurs a challenge.  The Suns should go after Fabs and then they will be the champs without having to sacrifice Amare!
 

Good analysis Rick.  IMO the reason the Suns do this deal has more to do with heart and determination.  THAT is the edge that KG brings over Amare.  But also the Suns are admitting that Nash is the key to the window.  But they have some solid young players in Amare, Barbosa, Bell, etc.  Their biggest problem is depth.  And the mentioned chemistry problems.

Marion makes more sense to trade but there are two problems...he has an opt-out and if he refuses to extend with his new team then it is as good as a no-trade clause.  Also I think other GMs are hesitant because of the "Nash effect" - does Marion look better because he is playing next to Nash in an up-tempo style?  Will he produce the same for Minny, Boston, Atlanta, etc?

[rickortreat]

If they had to be split, I'd drop Marion in favor of Amare.  The Spurs showed that Marion can be stopped by a good team defense.  He's a slasher and a runner, devastating in the open court, but Shawn isn't great at creating his own shot in the half-court.  Amare was still effective even against the Spurs defense.

This isn't to suggest that Shawn can't play, or doesn't belong on a championship team, but he needs to work more on his game to become a top-flight player.  If he could add some spot-up shooting to his repetoire, that could open up his game a great deal.

Ego problems mean nothing unless they affect play on the court.  I don't think players have to like each other to play well.  I think that if they play well, they start to like each other.

Nash is the piece that makes the Suns go, and for the Suns to continue to be a top team after he retires, the Suns will need a replacement, and a good point is hard to find. 

All the Suns need right now, is a solid Center who can clog up the middle and get in the way of the Duncan's and Yao's in the league.

[JoMal]

As recent commentary has indicated on the networks, this deal is not getting done just yet. Too many factors have to fall into place and that makes it hard for all sides to come to a consensus.

But the chemistry problems that have manifested on the Suns are not going away. If this deal falls through, I am thinking that Phoenix still needs to do something about it and it would have to be Marion who gets moved then. Stoudemire's upside and position are just too important.