Lakers in trade talks to get Garnett

如果成事又真係幾好呀.. Kobe + KG.. 好睇呀.. 內外都有..佢既爭勝心絕對唔比 kobe 差..


From LA times:http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers26jun26,1,4891389.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers

Lakers in trade talks to get Garnett
Trade discussions involve sending Odom and Bynum for the Timberwolves
star in a possible deal. Bryant is not part of the proposed trade.

The owners of the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have begun talks for
a trade that would involve sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers, league
sources said today.

The talks turned into discussions about a four-way deal among the
Lakers, Minnesota, Indiana and Boston, in which the Lakers would have
gotten Garnett. However, the deal broke down, reportedly because the
Celtics didn't like what they would have gotten, ending the four-way
negotiations.

The Lakers are now back to direct two-team talks with the Timberwolves.
However, sources say, Minnesota Vice President of Basketball Operations
Kevin McHale wants young players and high draft choices and isn't keen
on the Lakers offer of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, plus another minor
player to make the trade work financially.

The Lakers have the 19th pick in Thursday's draft, which is considered
deep, but the Timberwolves are looking for a significantly higher pick
than that in a trade.

Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke by phone for 20
minutes Friday. Buss reportedly ended the conversation by suggesting
that Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak and McHale continue the
discussion today.

Acquiring Garnett could address the concerns of Kobe Bryant, who has
demanded to be traded for more than four weeks.

Bryant met with Kupchak for about an hour Friday, a day after Garnett
rejected a trade that would have sent him to Boston.

Bryant did not step down from his desire to be traded. However, Kupchak,
Buss and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson met later that day to discuss options
based on the assumption they would still have Bryant, The Times has
learned.

Garnett, 31, has never formally asked for a trade while signaling his
distress in recent years as the Timberwolves fell from top-notch status.
Minnesota, the No. 1-seeded team in the Western Conference in 2004, lost
to the Lakers in the West finals and hasn't made the playoffs since
then.

The Timberwolves finished 33-49 in 2005-06 and 32-50 last season, tied
for 12th in the West with Portland.

Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season. He wants an
extension, which Buss reportedly told Taylor he was willing to offer.
Garnett is due to earn $22 million next season and $23 million in
2008-09, the last year of his contract.

Garnett, a 10-time All-Star, averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1
assists and 1.7 blocked shots last season while showing few signs of
slowing down, other than spending the last five games of the season in
Los Angeles — he has a home in Malibu — to rest a sore right
quadriceps.

Bynum, 19, started his second NBA season with a flurry, including a
memorable game against Minnesota in November in which he had 20
points,14 rebounds and three blocked shots.

But Bynum struggled during the second half of the season and finished
with averages of 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. The Lakers have
been criticized by Bryant for not trading Bynum at the February trade
deadline to get Jason Kidd from New Jersey.

Odom, 27, was acquired three years ago as part of the trade that sent
Shaquille O'Neal to Miami.

Odom averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season and
missed 26 games because of knee and shoulder injuries. He had a torn
labrum in his left shoulder repaired last month and is expected to
return in time for training camp in October.