[Lefty Noob]

Both sides talked about it after yesterday's Timberwolves - Knicks game, won by Minnesota 98-94. Both seem willing. But neither seems willing to change teams in order to make it happen.

And both Garnett and Stephon Marbury said they would be open to being reunited in the future -- although neither seems to want to change cities.

"I've always said I'll be in Minnesota as long as they want me," Garnett said after scoring 26 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the Wolves' 98-94 victory over Marbury and the New York Knicks. "I don't think I can take another one of these rebuilding stages."

It's been a frustrating season for both Garnett and Marbury, who played three seasons in Minnesota together before an unhappy Marbury forced a trade in 1999. Despite the league's highest payroll, the Knicks are one of the worst teams. And the Wolves will likely miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year after playing in the Western Conference finals in 2004.

Asked if he would like to play with his former point guard, Garnett said: "I have no beef with Steph. I've never had a problem with Steph on the court. ... You ask him, 'Can you play with me?"'

Before the game, reporters asked Marbury about reuniting with Garnett.

"In New York? That'd be great," he said.

What about in Minnesota?

"Nah."

Source: AP

Well, what do you think? Are the odds better than Garnett joins the Knicks next season, that Marbury winds up in Minnesota, or that neither one actually happens. I'm fairly convinced that Marbury's days in the Big Apple are done, but he doesn't seem to keen on the idea of going to the Wolves.

[ThePundit]

Neither one will happen. To start, the Knicks can't fit Garnett in under the cap. To do that, the Wolves would have to take back an equal amount of salary and there is no one on the Knicks they would possibly want who makes that kind of money.

And who in their right mind would take Marbury off the Knicks hands? He's a 60 million dollar losing player. It's just the media trying to come up with a story.

But this is a major part of the NBA problem. NBA team don't trade players anymore, they trade contracts.

[EmpireWF]

KG going to the Knicks would be sweet but would only happen if he forced his way out...which won't happen. The TWolves don't want anyone on the Knicks so a trade couldn't happen for him.

I can see the Knicks buying out Marbury's contract to get him off the team but I doubt it'll happen. I still think Francis will be gone this Summer. Who knows what kind of horrid contract Thomas will get back.

[cjg11582]

Not sure what to make of this. I remember in the earlier stages of their careers they really seemed to compliment each other. Who knows how it would playout. The Knicks need to unload some of that baggage in order to possibly acquire a Garnett. If KG demands to be traded, The T'Wolves might actually take on some of The Knicks overpaid, underperforming talent. It is time for Minnesota to cut the umbilical cord.

[Wizard of Os]

Nah...even if KG would accept a trade to the Knicks (and if he has the no-trade option he should indeed nix a move to NYC), what sort of trade could Isiah offer the Wolves? As lame as Kevin McHale has proven to be past the Joe Smith debacle, not even he would fall for some sort of package deal involving Steve Francis, Jerome James and, what, maybe Jalen Rose...? Come on. The Knicks don't even have a draft pick until about Y3K at this point.

The only possible justification on the Wolves' part would be if they could somehow get Channing Frye, but Frye seems to be about the only player Isiah is unwilling to part with, thereby demonstrating that there is a modicum of intelligent life in New York.

On the other hand, if K-Mac (nickname updated in hiphop fashion for a guy who played in the time of hot pants) is willing to do a lot of homework, he could trade KG for three or four guys and then redistribute the talent around the league with several individual trades...a six-team swap, anyone? Hey, it'd work in Madden...

(And, mark my words: There's no way "Starbury" is returning to Minny; K-Mac may be a bit wacky in his dealings, but he does have a memory. Starbury subverted the Wolves' chances when he could have helped turn them into a legitimate power.)

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

So any predictions as to what does happen with KG and Marbury? Where do each of them wind up next year?

[Wizard of Os]

Lefty,

Keeping in mind that i am never correct about these things (i.e. sports), i'm going to say this. These guys will end up on different teams that nobody expects right now.

How about KG on the Cavaliers, say? Now that wins a title. And Starbury...let's see...how about...Philly? Can they afford him? Maybe New Orleans/Ok City. Denver?

I'll say that neither of them play in Minny, New York or the Beantown or Tinseltown one-man shows.

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

How about KG on the Cavaliers, say?

KG and LeBron on the same team? Wow, now that would be something!

[cjg11582]

KG's agent did talk to Gerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak. Thats another possible destination.

[Wizard of Os]

As a Laker fan, i would LOVE to see KG on the team but i don't know how much abuse he's willing to take playing second fiddle on Kobe's team; it's possible if KG wants to play a bigger Lamar Odom.

Odom is producing 14.8 points 9.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists (incidentally, for all those who believe playing with Kobe is bad for the career, Odom's lifetime NBA numbers are 15.8/8.5/4.5); if KG plays the new Laker game the same way as Odom, he can top this and be a threat for the triple-double every night. This also implies that the perpetually criminally underrated Odom will be wearing a T-Wolves jersey next year and figures to have a career year. Unfortunately, Smush'd probably wind up in Minnesota as well.

But Cleveland -- that's the way to go for KG. Imagine the possibilities. Old-hand dude with a total game tutoring the basketball machine. That team is maybe one big center from a mini-run of titles. Let me guess...they also land Payton.

[legend]

Marbury will wind up in Attica after he shoots Larry Brown. Garnett goes to the Suns after Amare finds out he is all done.

[dirtysouthnut]

I would love to see KG and Lebron on the same team it would defintaly stir up the eastern confrence more.

[Wizard of Os]

Huh. Well, according to Marc Stein...he doesn't know, either.

The senior writer acknowledges that the KG-Starbury combination is popular thought to be happening, but little evidence suggests it. Meanwhile, he seems to suggest that the T-wolves will attempt to rebuild a team around KG, but who here thinks he'll have the patience? I don't.

[Lefty Noob]

Poor KG. The guy deserves a shot at a title before he has to hang them up, but it doesn't look like he'll ever get one. He doesn't want to go through another rebuilding process, but it looks like the Wolves are going to force him to do just that, because they've come out and said they're not going to trade him.