Late push to sign former star ahead of trade deadline on Thursday…
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in bringing back veteran Kevin Garnett to the franchise, eight years after he left for Boston.
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According to ESPN, the Timberwolves have been in serious discussions with the Brooklyn Nets over a deal which would send Thaddeus Young in the opposite direction.
However, Minnesota are pushed for time to obtain Garnett’s approval with the trade deadline fast approaching at 3 p.m. (ET) on Thursday.
It may prove to be difficult considering the 38-year-old has previously insisted that he wouldn’t want to move mid-season, but in contrast he has discussed his desire to become a future owner of the Timberwolves franchise and a return to the organisation to end his playing career could aid him in that process.
Garnett has maintained a close relationship with coach Flip Saunders since his first stint with the team but although a reunion sounds interesting on paper, he would have to be prepared to give up the possibility of playing in the playoffs this season to join a team struggling at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Brooklyn will undoubtedly be keen to acquire Young and shed Garnett’s salary, while Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers had reportedly been hopeful that the veteran would complete a buy-out before March 1 in order to free himself up to join them for a playoff push.
However, at this stage it would be difficult to envisage Garnett jumping ship on the Nets until the end of the season and then a return to Minnesota is a very realistic possibility.
The former Boston Celtics star was the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft and spent 12 seasons with the Timberwolves before joining Boston where he won a championship in his first season with the franchise.
In contrast, Minnesota struggled without him as they have failed to make the post-season without him since and that ultimately was a factor in their loss of Kevin Love last summer too.
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