Kevin Garnett is not known for holding back, on or off the court. That sentiment appears to persist through retirement too. Garnett has some dirty laundry to air about the Timberwolves management and ownership. He offered his opinion on several matters such as the honoring of the late Flip Saunders, his supposed expected part ownership in the team, and influence in roster decisions. Garnett, however, has a different story according to the Associated Press and John Krawczynski.
When Flip Saunders helped orchestrate Garnett’s return to Minnesota, the two reportedly had dialogue about KG becoming part owner in the franchise that drafted him. After Saunders’ sadly lost his battle with lymphoma, the team moved forward. Garnett’s good friend and Wolves former head coach Sam Mitchell was fired, replaced by Tom Thibodeau who also took over as team president. Scott Layden assumed general manager duties and plotted a new direction for the franchise, one without Garnett. KG believes that after Saunders’ death, whatever he was promised or told was no longer on the table. This lead to an awkward buyout situation and negotiation with owner Glen Taylor.
“I love those young guys,” Garnett said to the Associated Press, referring to the Wolves’ young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine that he mentored in his final season. “I told Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) I want to work with him, but obviously me and Glen don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things and that’s how it’s going to be.”
Garnett also says to the AP that he disappointed in the way the Timberwolves handled Saunders’ memorial services and tribute ceremony. Garnett was very close with Saunders, who drafted him out of Farragut Academy in 1995. That bond is tough, and one could understand Garnett being particularly sensitive to the subject. The Wolves did hold a ceremony for Saunders, but it did not meet Garnett’s standards.
“How do you put a time limit on something like that?” Garnett said. “And then, too, I thought he wasn’t celebrated the proper way. You have high school banners, you have (expletive) hockey banners (hanging in the rafters). You couldn’t put a Flip banner in Target Center, some place that we helped build? … We established that market. I helped grow that with him. You can’t put him in the (rafters)? I wish the Timberwolves all the best. I talk to KAT and some of the young guys all the time,” Garnett said. “I hope they can find a special place in commemorating Flip and celebrating him properly.”
The Timberwolves have reached out to Kevin Garnett about setting date to retire his jersey, but the two sides have no come to agreement about when. “We think that’s the appropriate thing to do,” Taylor said to the AP. “At this time he hasn’t commented on a timetable. We just have left it open.”
Kevin Garnett put the Timberwolves into the spotlight when he ferociously led them to multiple playoff appearances, a place they have not returned to since. It is disappointing to see the relationship have a bitter turn like this, especially considering how much of a fan-favorite Garnett is. Hopefully the two sides can work out their differences.
