Lakers reportedly looking at four-team deal for Garnett

AFP
June 25, 2007
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Owners of the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberolves have started talks about a possible four-team blockbuster deal that would send Kevin Garnett to the Lakers to play alongside Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The newspaper, citing unnamed National Basketball Association sources, said the discussions involve Indiana as well while ESPN added to the mix, saying Boston would obtain Jermaine O'Neal from the Pacers as part of the mega-trade.

Under the plan, Garnett would come to the Lakers while the Pacers would obtain Lamar Odom and teen center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers with young players and draft picks going to Minnesota.

The Times reported that Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves, ended their 20-minute telephone call by saying their top basketball executives should continue the talks.

The deal should make Bryant happy. The Lakers' superstar guard has expressed his unhappiness several times in the past month about the state of the Lakers and his desire to see the club make moves to become competitive.

Obtaining Garnett, who has stayed with Minnesota despite frustrating years and an inability to play beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Garnett, 31, has watched the Timberwolves lose to the Lakers in the 2004 Western Conference finals and fail to qualify for the playoffs since then. They were 32-50 last season.

Garnett can opt out of his contract after next season, so the T-wolves might want to obtain something in exchange for him rather than watch him depart for nothing in return.

He is due to make 22 million dollars next season and 23 million dollars in the 2008-2009 season.

Ten-time All-Star Garnett averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocked shots a game last season.