Fansided

5 alternate timelines for Kevin Garnett

By Dave Stevenson

Jan 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett reacts from the bench during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 114-99. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett reacts from the bench during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 114-99. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Mandatory Credit: Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images /

2. What if the Warriors drafted Garnett in 1995?

The Golden State Warriors won their third NBA title in 2015 after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, maybe they didn’t have to wait that long.

In 1995, the Warriors held the first overall pick. They went with the safe pick, Joe Smith from Maryland. Smith was the National Player of The Year, so it’s not like they drafted a scrub. But compare Smith’s career to Kevin Garnett’s. Which one would you rather have in hindsight? Easy. Garnett.

Golden State went through a playoff drought from 1994 to 2007. They likely don’t go through that drought with Garnett. KG immediately made the Timberwolves a relevant team and would likely have done the same for the Warriors. While it’s not the Lakers or the Clippers, perhaps Garnett gets the Warriors some attention in the state of California.

In the end, Garnett going to the Warriors probably doesn’t change too much. Perhaps he asks for a trade earlier. But if he sticks it out until 2007, he’s in the same spot that he was when he left the Timberwolves. Perhaps he never gets traded to the Celtics because a huge reason why Garnett went to the Celtics was because of the friendship between Glen Taylor and Danny Ainge. So his career is probably worse off with the Warriors than the Timberwolves.

Home/NBA