Jeff: Garnett Trade Rumors a Reality

Have you heard the latest trade rumor involving Kevin Garnett? Garnett, Paul Bunyan and 1,000 of the state's 10,000 lakes to Chicago for Lake Michigan, the Sears Tower, a washed-up Scottie Pippen and Bill Wennington's beard. Or wait was it to New York for the Statue of Liberty, Stephon Marbury, and half of Staten Island (apparently Isiah said he'd even throw in the defunct CBA)? Or maybe to Boston for a Hah-vahd Smaht Kid, Curt Schilling's ego, Skyler's phone numbah (how ya like them apples?) and Wally World?

You get the idea. Since reports surfaced last week that the Wolves are indeed listening to offers for KG, it seems just about every team in the league has been rumored to be involved in a KG blockbuster. First it was Boston for Al Jefferson, contract fodder, and the #5. Then it's to Phoenix for Shawn Marion, or wait maybe Amare Stoudamire? My favorite was from the biggest rumor monger out there, the Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith who claims to know about a 3 way trade between the Wolves, Celtics, and Suns in which the Suns get KG, the C's get Marion, and the Wolves get the #5 from Boston and Theo Ratliff's cap fodder, and #24 & 29 this year, Atlanta's unprotected #1 next year AND Kurt Thomas' expiring contract from Phoenix. OOFTAH!

Anyway, back in reality, it's been confirmed that your Minnesota Timberwolves and the LA Lakers are really truly seriously talking about getting Wolves star Kevin Garnett into purple and gold along side Kobe Bryant. Sources say that indeed Wolves owner Glen Taylor and Lakers owner Jerry Buss spoke on the phone about a deal, and that it's still in the preliminary stages. They first talked about a 4 team that had KG to the Lakers (duh), Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to the Indiana Pacers, C Jermaine O'Neal to the Celtics, and the #5, #19, Gerald Green and salary cap relief coming to Target Center. 3 guesses who pulled out of these talks?

Yup, not Minnesota, who clearly gets hosed here, but Boston. Of course. That trade made sense for everybody- well except MInnesota, which in itself makes sense. Really, if the Wolves do indeed trade KG and don't get completely ripped off it'd be the biggest upset since the Miracle on Ice.

Rumor also has it that earlier this morning McHale tried to give KG, Ricky Davis and 3 #1's to Barney the Baitshop guy in Hibbing for some fishing tackle, some jerky and a case of PBR. That's when Barney mentioned he'd heard on the radio about the trade talks and that maybe McHale should call down to the Cities to see what's going on. Maybe that's true and maybe it's not, but we do know that the Big Ugly Sweater is not satisfied with the Lakers current offer of Odom, Bynum (who, if he'd gone to UConn for 2 years, would be a top 5 pick in this draft), Kwame Brown's expiring contract and the #19. Apparently McHale's not satisfied with that deal from the Lakers, even though it's better than what he would have gotten in the 4 team deal. Is it because he's not the ones giving up picks or expiring contracts? Does he have a phobia about acquiring these things? Or is it because the Lakers won't take Mark Madsen back? Seriously, who's going to be waving a towel on the Lakers bench and giving awkward chest bumps and high fives to KG and Kobe next year? Can't the Maddog have his fun?

This is probably all much ado about nothing but it's the sllooooooowwwwwwweeeeessssttttt time of the year for sports. It also makes me wonder: does this trade make the Lakers title contenders? They'd have KG, Kobe and...Luke Walton? Brian Shaw? Is Rick Fox's jericurl making a comeback? Kurt Rambis goggles? Seriously it's a 2 man team that in my books isn't quite as good as San Antonio, Phoenix or Dallas. But hey it'd be fun.