Did KG-To-Boston Get Hyped Over The Years Like "AD-To-Boston" Now?

[Big333223]

I thought there was 2 years of KG trade rumours before the deal happened. Boston was one of the teams mentioned but never a frontrunner.

Yeah, that's my memory of it, too. After the Timberwolves missed the playoffs in '05, they were just so bad the next two seasons and all the talking heads were speculating that KG was going to be traded somewhere he could contend. Boston was in a weird place, though, and not on the top of the list to get him.

[knuckleballer]

I thought there was 2 years of KG trade rumours before the deal happened. Boston was one of the teams mentioned but never a frontrunner.

Yeah, that's my memory of it, too. After the Timberwolves missed the playoffs in '05, they were just so bad the next two seasons and all the talking heads were speculating that KG was going to be traded somewhere he could contend. Boston was in a weird place, though, and not on the top of the list to get him.

Danny has said he was in contact with Minnesota for years about trading for Garnett.  I wonder if he's had any talks with New Orleans.

[Roy H.]

It's amazing how some players have apparently been "untouchables" in trade discussions for star players, only to have them turn out to be nothing all that special.

Golden State wouldn't give up Andris Biedriens and Monta Ellis for KG.

Chicago wouldn't give up Deng and Hinrich.

The Clippers wouldn't give up Shaun Livingston for anybody, including Paul Pierce.

Let's hope that "Boston wouldn't give up Jaylen Brown for Kawhi Leonard" doesn't turn into one of those what-could-have-beens.

[rondofan1255]

Did KG let Boston know in advance he would quickly sign an extension in July? I forget

[GreenEnvy]

Did KG let Boston know in advance he would quickly sign an extension in July? I forget

Yes, he did.

http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2954127

Also says talks were far along in June, presumably before the draft/Ray trade.

[nickagneta]

Let's not forget the little bit of drama that occurred before the Ray Allen trade was made. KG said he would never re-sign with Boston because he hated Wally Szczerbiak which led to Szczerbiak being a part of the Ray Allen trade. Once Ray was in Boston and Wally gone, KG's preference was to go to Boston because of his relationship with Pierce from when they were in high school.

[Phantom255x]

I thought there was 2 years of KG trade rumours before the deal happened. Boston was one of the teams mentioned but never a frontrunner. Boston was also linked with a bunch of other stars. Everyone knew Ainge was trying to swing for a big name. Iverson was a big one. Pau Gasol was another. I forget who else.

The two main teams in the KG chase were Phoenix and the LA Lakers. Phoenix were willing to deal Marion but were reluctant to deal Amare Stoudemire. Minnesota wanted Amare. So that deal never got made. LA were offering Odom and Andrew Bynum (hadn't broken out yet, only 7ppg 5rpg).

The other team that got mentioned a lot in trade deals was Chicago. The Baby Bulls had lots of trade assets and were getting mentioned in everything. I don't remember if they were in the KG chase but they probably were.

Boston, on the other hand, was a secondary option. They didn't have great trade assets. They had a lot of good pieces. Expiring deals. Good young players. Good draft picks. But no great pieces you could build a team around. So they couldn't get in any of the trade negotations for the top players and were instead looking for the 2nd tier guys (like Iverson or Pau) who weren't valued as highly.

That all changed in the season before the KG trade. Paul Pierce got hurt and missed almost half the season. The Celtics went from a near .500 team (20 wins, 27 losses) to the worst team in the league (7 wins, 31 losses) without Pierce. Suddenly Boston had a great chance at a top pick in a top draft (Durant, Oden).

The second thing that happened was Big Al broke out. He went from a 7ppg 5rpg bench big man to a 16ppg 11rpg who posted 20-11 after the All-Star break. Al Jefferson had announced himself as a future star in the making. The type of low post offensive weapon you could build your team around. Now Boston had 2 blue chip trade assets (Big Al, 2007 draft pick).

This changed everything and made Boston one of the frontrunners in the trade market. This is when Boston became one of the main options in the KG trade chase. Even then though, LAL and Phoenix were considered above Boston. However Phoenix were still unwilling to deal. That left it between LAL and Boston. Minnesota (McHale) chose Boston's trade package over LAL largely because Big Al had proved himself much more so than Andrew Bynum. I mean, who would you pick? The 20-11 big man or the 7ppg 5rpg big man? Bynum was too big of an unknown at that point and Odom was not a franchise cornerstone. Big Al was the best young talent on the table and Minnesota went for him.

If McHale didn't screw up, he could've had the 2007 draft pick (#5) that landed Ray Allen as well as Big Al. But he was hesitant and blew his opportunity. Ended up with a lesser deal.

......

So no KG wasn't as hyped to Boston for years before. It was more of a pipe dream that Boston didn't have the assets to get into. Then they did after an injury hit 2007 and the breakout of Big Al and suddenly Boston were prime trade destination. From then on, they were heavily named for KG.

That is my memory of it.

Wow, thanks for that detailed explanation. TP! 

So the C's did get a bit lucky and fortunate with some of the events leading up to it, and they capitalized.

[Phantom255x]

Let's not forget the little bit of drama that occurred before the Ray Allen trade was made. KG said he would never re-sign with Boston because he hated Wally Szczerbiak which led to Szczerbiak being a part of the Ray Allen trade. Once Ray was in Boston and Wally gone, KG's preference was to go to Boston because of his relationship with Pierce from when they were in high school.

Whoa, I honestly didn't know that 

It's amazing how some players have apparently been "untouchables" in trade discussions for star players, only to have them turn out to be nothing all that special.

Golden State wouldn't give up Andris Biedriens and Monta Ellis for KG.

Chicago wouldn't give up Deng and Hinrich.

The Clippers wouldn't give up Shaun Livingston for anybody, including Paul Pierce.

Let's hope that "Boston wouldn't give up Jaylen Brown for Kawhi Leonard" doesn't turn into one of those what-could-have-beens.

Nah I'm fine with it. There was just way too much risk involved with Kawhi. His injury, his contract situation, etc. And as great as he's looked for TOR, are we sure he's staying there long term or bouncing to someone like the Clippers? If he bolts, then TOR goes back to a middle of the pack team unless you think Lowry is single-handedly carrying them to a 1-2 seed. I think also there were reports that the Lakers/Clippers were the ONLY teams he was willing to commit to re-signing after this season, and Boston was NOT one of those teams.

I'm fine with giving up Jaylen for Davis in a package (as much as I love Jaylen), BUT I'd hesitate if they ask for Tatum. Depends also on what the rest of that said trade-package is.

[celts10]

Boston had 2 blue chip trade assets (Big Al, 2007 draft pick).

If we landed in the top two and drafted either Oden or Durant in 2007, do you think Danny keeps a fully healthy Pierce on the team that season, or does he ship him out for younger talent/future draft picks?

[KungPoweChicken]

Boston had 2 blue chip trade assets (Big Al, 2007 draft pick).

If we landed in the top two and drafted either Oden or Durant in 2007, do you think Danny keeps a fully healthy Pierce on the team that season, or does he ship him out for younger talent/future draft picks?

I think we would have seen Pierce play with Durant. I don't know how long it would have lasted, but I think we would have seen it.

[SHAQATTACK]

I thought there was 2 years of KG trade rumours before the deal happened. Boston was one of the teams mentioned but never a frontrunner. Boston was also linked with a bunch of other stars. Everyone knew Ainge was trying to swing for a big name. Iverson was a big one. Pau Gasol was another. I forget who else.

The two main teams in the KG chase were Phoenix and the LA Lakers. Phoenix were willing to deal Marion but were reluctant to deal Amare Stoudemire. Minnesota wanted Amare. So that deal never got made. LA were offering Odom and Andrew Bynum (hadn't broken out yet, only 7ppg 5rpg).

The other team that got mentioned a lot in trade deals was Chicago. The Baby Bulls had lots of trade assets and were getting mentioned in everything. I don't remember if they were in the KG chase but they probably were.

Boston, on the other hand, was a secondary option. They didn't have great trade assets. They had a lot of good pieces. Expiring deals. Good young players. Good draft picks. But no great pieces you could build a team around. So they couldn't get in any of the trade negotations for the top players and were instead looking for the 2nd tier guys (like Iverson or Pau) who weren't valued as highly.

That all changed in the season before the KG trade. Paul Pierce got hurt and missed almost half the season. The Celtics went from a near .500 team (20 wins, 27 losses) to the worst team in the league (7 wins, 31 losses) without Pierce. Suddenly Boston had a great chance at a top pick in a top draft (Durant, Oden).

The second thing that happened was Big Al broke out. He went from a 7ppg 5rpg bench big man to a 16ppg 11rpg who posted 20-11 after the All-Star break. Al Jefferson had announced himself as a future star in the making. The type of low post offensive weapon you could build your team around. Now Boston had 2 blue chip trade assets (Big Al, 2007 draft pick).

This changed everything and made Boston one of the frontrunners in the trade market. This is when Boston became one of the main options in the KG trade chase. Even then though, LAL and Phoenix were considered above Boston. However Phoenix were still unwilling to deal. That left it between LAL and Boston. Minnesota (McHale) chose Boston's trade package over LAL largely because Big Al had proved himself much more so than Andrew Bynum. I mean, who would you pick? The 20-11 big man or the 7ppg 5rpg big man? Bynum was too big of an unknown at that point and Odom was not a franchise cornerstone. Big Al was the best young talent on the table and Minnesota went for him.

If McHale didn't screw up, he could've had the 2007 draft pick (#5) that landed Ray Allen as well as Big Al. But he was hesitant and blew his opportunity. Ended up with a lesser deal.

......

So no KG wasn't as hyped to Boston for years before. It was more of a pipe dream that Boston didn't have the assets to get into. Then they did after an injury hit 2007 and the breakout of Big Al and suddenly Boston were prime trade destination. From then on, they were heavily named for KG.

That is my memory of it.

Wow, thanks for that detailed explanation. TP! 

So the C's did get a bit lucky and fortunate with some of the events leading up to it, and they capitalized.

million thanks too.
man that was good history lesson.   I keep seeing KG in a Boston jersey when I d watch the T wolves .  Dreaming how awesome he and Pierce could be .  I could or would have never guessed Al would turn ino a KG trade .   

[SHAQATTACK]

I wasn't active on CB in '07, but I don't remember reading or seeing KG rumors until the summer when the deal was made. I checked the yahoo site first and then ESPN for box scores then. No apps or anything... Also still had a flip phone WITHOUT internet! 

this describes my situation to a tee.  My old,dell computer locked up 20 times a day . I had a flip phone . i read the newspaper or SI

[Roy H.]

If McHale didn't screw up, he could've had the 2007 draft pick (#5) that landed Ray Allen as well as Big Al. But he was hesitant and blew his opportunity. Ended up with a lesser deal.

I don't think this was McHale's fault.  As I recall, he was willing to do a deal, but KG didn't want to go to Boston.  He didn't think Pierce was enough, and he threatened to opt out of his contract if the deal was consummated.

Once the Ray Allen deal was completed, KG changed his mind, agreeing to a contract extension. 

[dmopower]

If McHale didn't screw up, he could've had the 2007 draft pick (#5) that landed Ray Allen as well as Big Al. But he was hesitant and blew his opportunity. Ended up with a lesser deal.

I don't think this was McHale's fault.  As I recall, he was willing to do a deal, but KG didn't want to go to Boston.  He didn't think Pierce was enough, and he threatened to opt out of his contract if the deal was consummated.

Once the Ray Allen deal was completed, KG changed his mind, agreeing to a contract extension.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2017/07/31/the-kevin-garnett-trade-almost-never-happened-because-of-this-contract-hurdle

[perks-a-beast]

If McHale didn't screw up, he could've had the 2007 draft pick (#5) that landed Ray Allen as well as Big Al. But he was hesitant and blew his opportunity. Ended up with a lesser deal.

I don't think this was McHale's fault.  As I recall, he was willing to do a deal, but KG didn't want to go to Boston.  He didn't think Pierce was enough, and he threatened to opt out of his contract if the deal was consummated.

Once the Ray Allen deal was completed, KG changed his mind, agreeing to a contract extension.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2017/07/31/the-kevin-garnett-trade-almost-never-happened-because-of-this-contract-hurdle

Off track but it's so crazy how that extension was 3 year/$51 million. That's the kind of money being shelled out for guys like Allen Crabbee now