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Flip Saunders says Kevin Garnett never wanted to leave Timberwolves

By Josh Hill

May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) reacts against the Toronto Raptors during the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Raptors 97 - 83. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) reacts against the Toronto Raptors during the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Raptors 97 - 83. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Twice in the last decade the Minnesota Timberwolves have found and groomed a star player, only to trade him away when the team wants to rebuild.

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Kevin Love’s trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers has brought back memories of the Kevin Garnett trade that sent the superstar to the Boston Celtics. In comparing Kevin Love’s trade situation to that of Kevin Garnett, Flip Saunders notes that Garnett never wanted to leave Minnesota but did so after learning the team was going to rebuild.

"“Garnett didn’t want to leave,” Saunders said. “Garnett was here for 12 years, signed three contracts, had no trade clause, actually turned down trades early at first. But then when he found out this was going to be a total rebuild anyone that knows Kevin, Kevin wants to win. He wanted to be in a winning situation. So the perception that Love left because Garnett left, that’s not the right perception. (Garnett) loved it here and he gave a lot to this organization and wanted to stay here and be here. Like I said, anybody that’s here for 12 years, it shows his commitment to the organization. We feel that we’ve got players who are going to have that same type of commitment.”"

This is an interesting retrospective on the situation as the Wolves and Garnett appeared to be ending things on bad terms and it was no secret that Garnett was unhappy with David Kahn.

But hearing that Garnett only wanted to leave because of rebuilding and comparing that to rumors of discourse over the front office not putting together a winner sort of clears the air as to what was really going on.

[h/t: St. Paul Pioneer Press]

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