Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett Talk Contract Settlement

The Minnesota Timberwolves and franchise icon Kevin Garnett are discussing a contract settlement to end Garnett’s second stint with the franchise.

The Minnesota Timberwolves had one of the feel-good stories of the 2015 NBA trade deadline. In a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, they acquired former franchise icon Kevin Garnett in exchange for Thaddeus Young.

While Garnett was past his prime and no longer a nightly contributor on the court, Flip Saunders convinced him to waive his no-trade clause and come back home.

Garnett would fill a mentor role for the Timberwolves, teaching their young roster the ins and outs and being a professional basketball player.

The Timberwolves and Garnett would agree to a two-year, $16.5 million deal during the summer of 2015 to keep him with the organization.

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Once again, he filled that mentor role, as he was an integral in mentoring the Timberwolves’ younger players, namely prized big man Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns took home the Rookie of the Year award, and it would be fair to credit some of that success to the tutelage of Garnett. But, it looks like Towns will have to rely on someone else as a mentor this upcoming season, as Garnett looks to be on his way out.

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According to ESPN’s Marc Stein Garnett and the Timberwolves are in advanced stages of agreeing to a contract settlement.

The settlement would end Garnett’s second tour with the organization, as his representatives are looking to secure a settlement for Garnett.

Once a settlement is reached, sources told ESPN the belief is Garnett would then announce his retirement.

This is the most the Timberwolves have heard about Garnett’s intentions for the 2016-17 season, as owner Glen Taylor said he has not talked to Garnett in a couple of weeks.

"“I have not talked with him at all. We have to decide, in the next couple weeks, if he’s going to play or not play. I’m waiting for him. I sent him a message, told him, ‘I need you to make a decision.’ I just haven’t heard from him.”"

It would be no surprise if Garnett elects to hang it up, as the last couple of seasons have been a struggle.

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Garnett battled knee problems during his second stint with the Timberwolves, playing in only 43 games over a season and a half; five after the trade in 2015 and 38 during the 2015-16 season.

It was a storybook ending for Garnett to wind up back with the organization that drafted him fifth overall in 1995, but he had bigger plans.

According to Stein’s sources, part of the reason Garnett agreed to return to Minnesota was to eventually buy the franchise along with Saunders from long-time owner Taylor.

But, Garnett lost his potential partner when Saunders passed away three months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

There is no word on if Garnett still wishes to pursue purchasing the Timberwolves at some point, but no longer having Saunders by his side could change his mind.

Saunders was the head coach for the Timberwolves in 2004 when they had the best season in franchise history, reaching the Western Conference Finals. That was also the season that Garnett took home MVP honors and one of the 15 times that he was named to the All-Star team.

Garnett was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court, as he made a major impact both offensively and defensively. For his career, Garnett has averaged 17.8 points, 10 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.

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Those numbers dropped as a result of taking a diminished role to win with the Boston Celtics and sticking around with the Nets and Timberwolves again. But, there is little debate that Garnett will one day be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.