Kevin Garnett is back in Minnesota after he was traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Timberwolves in exchange for forward Thaddeus Young right on the NBA trading deadline on February 19.
Days before the trade was consummated, the Timberwolves and the Nets have been reportedly talking about the possibility of Garnett’s return to Minnesota, where he started his NBA career, cites MSN Sports from an AP report.
But to be able to consummate the deal, the 38-year-old former franchise player of the Timberwolves need to concur as well since he is one of the very few veterans in the league with a full no-trade clause in his contract.
With the finalization of the trade agreement, it means that Garnett is also intent on returning to Minnesota where he is well-loved by fans even if he left the team in 2007 to play for the Boston Celtics. What’s more, Garnett will be returning to his former team for one final dance. Reports have it that the Timberwolves will be signing him to a two-year deal after the end of the current NBA season.
This would be exciting times for the veteran power forward since the Minnesota Timberwolves is an up and coming NBA contender with young and very talented players like point guard Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, and Gorgui Dieng.
Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine made good impressions during the recent NBA All-Star weekend. Wiggins was named MVP for the 2015 USA vs. World Rising Star Challenge, while LaVine is the 2015 Slam Dunk champion of the NBA with an exclamation point.
Eagerness to learn from the veteran
The young and talented players welcomed the return of KG to Minnesota. Point guard Ricky Rubio said that he is going to note all the things about Kevin Garnett because the veteran power forward knows success.
Rubio said that he remembers KG playing with the Timberwolves and also winning a championship with the Celtics. He said that playing against Garnett was special and will be more special for him and his teammates to have the opportunity to play with him on the same team.
The point guard also noted that opposing players were intimidated by Kevin Garnett and that’s because he is tough as much as he is a winner. Rubio said that KG is the type of player who will do what it takes for the team to win games.
Upstart guard Andrew Wiggins says that he is also very excited to get the priceless opportunity to play with KG and can’t wait to see how the future NBA Hall-of-Famer carries himself on and off the court.
Reunited too
Apart from being reunited with Minnesota fans, KG will likewise be renewing old ties with Flip Saunders, who was his coach during his first 10 years with the team.
Saunders also returned to the Timberwolves almost two years ago as president of basketball operations. He designated himself as the coach of the Timberwolves and also brought in Sam Mitchell as one of his assistant coaches. Mitchell is one of Garnett’s favorite teammates while he was still playing with the Timberwolves.