| Can The Wolves Satisfy Garnett’s Demands? Authored by Patrick J. Austin - August 15, 2006 - 3:52 pm
In a recent interview, Kevin Garnett made it abundantly clear he was not satisfied with the moves management has made this off-season and requested the addition of more “solid players.” He even made overtures about leaving Minnesota if the team does not improve in the near future saying, “If you’re not working towards a championship, then why are we in this? I’m in it to win, man, I’m not in it to be coming back talking about next year. I’m 30. I’ve probably got 4 to 5 years, you know what I’m saying? My clock is ticking, man…My years are limited, so my clock is definitely ticking.”
His comments can be interpreted two ways – (1)It’s a plea from a superstar feeling the burden of carrying a professional franchise on his back for over a decade. (2)It’s the nice way of saying “If I don’t get some help, then get me the heck out of here.” Personally, I believe it’s a little bit of both.
You have to sympathize with Garnett in this situation. He’s been the one constant with the Timberwolves while the rest of the roster appears to get a complete makeover every two or three years. He’s never had the opportunity to play with another legit superstar for any extended period of time. All of the would-be stars (e.g. Stephon Marbury) have left via free agency or been traded. Garnett is basically Jordan without Pippen or Malone without Stockton (that duo didn’t win a championship, but at least they made it to the finals). His request for more help should be taken seriously by management.
But here’s the rub…management (this is directed primarily at you Kevin McHale) can’t really get Garnett the help he desires. They’ve handcuffed themselves with bad drafts, bad trades, and even worse free agent signings. With regards to bad drafting, in 2003 the Wolves used the 26th selection on high school forward, Ndudi Ebi. Just three picks later the Mavericks selected guard/forward, Josh Howard. Ebi did absolutely nothing in the league and was eventually waived while Howard has blossomed into one of the most promising wingmen playing a key role in the Mavs recent run to the finals. In the bad trade department, Minnesota dealt away Sam Cassell AND a future first round pick in order to land the services of Marko Jaric (to the tune of forty million dollars over six years). Jaric averaged a disappointing 7.8ppg and 3.9apg while Cassell went on to play an intricle part in the resurgence of the Los Angeles Clippers and averaged 17.2ppg and 6.3apg. Did I mention the Wolves still owe the Clipps a first round pick? Ouch.
When you look at the Wolves roster as it is currently comprised, McHale does not have the assets necessary to turn the team into a contender in the near future. When Allen Iverson was on the block this summer, Minnesota tried to get in on the sweepstakes but could not put together a suitable package. Why? Because most teams aren’t clamoring for the services (and contracts) of Mark Blount, Troy Hudson, and the aforementioned Jaric. Sure, the Wolves have a couple of young pieces to get trade discussions going, but that young talent becomes less and less attractive if it means taking on albatross contracts in the process.
The team isn’t necessarily bad but certainly isn’t ready to contend either. Randy Foye is a very intriguing talent and has the potential to be that second star (though you can never be sure). Rashad McAnts is another intriguing prospect, but his recent injury issues don’t bode well for the future. Mike James put up impressive numbers in Toronto but he’s only had one good season in his entire career. Ricky Davis is a productive wingman with good offensive abilities, but he’s not the game-changer Garnett needs to shoulder some of the load. Essentially, the Timberwolves are a team in flux; they don’t have the pieces to contend but are just good enough to wallow in mediocrity. This means it’s only a matter of time before Garnett gets frustrated enough to demand a trade or just leaves via his opt-out clause after the 2007/2008 season.
I’d like to make one thing very clear: Kevin Garnett loves Minnesota. He’s been embraced by the community and considers the city his home. However, when it comes to the Timberwolves organization (specifically management) and recent moves made by said organization, I don’t believe Garnett is so enamored. His recent comments could just be the beginning of the end and things might get ugly if the team performs poorly at the start of the season. Garnett has a passion for winning that’s unrivaled by most in this league and that passion could lead to an exit from Minnesota sooner than most fans would like. |
