Brooklyn Nets veteran Kevin Garnett apparently hasn't decided whether he will return for the 2014-15 season. Garnett, who has one year left on his contract, has yet to speak with new Nets coach Lionel Hollins, leading to the possibility the 38-year-old might retire.
Garnett originally waived his no-trade clause last summer and joined the Nets ostensibly because longtime Boston Celtics teammate Paul Pierce would be there. With Pierce now with the Washington Wizards, and the Nets roster looking incapable of winning a title, Garnett appears to be seriously weighing retirement.
"Nets coach Lionel Hollins is still waiting to hear from former Celtic Kevin Garnett, who has not given the team an indication he wants to return, though he is expected to play a 20th NBA season," Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe wrote on Saturday.
The majority of reports this summer indicated Garnett would return, but that was before coach Jason Kidd went to Milwaukee and before Pierce ultimately decided to sign with Washington. The 2013-14 season was championship or bust for the Nets, and it was a bust. If Garnett returned, he wouldn't be returning to the same team that had championship expectations last season.
With little hope of winning an NBA title, and with Kidd and Pierce both gone, the question for Garnett becomes is it worth putting his body through another grueling NBA season. The one year remaining on his contract does give him 12 million reasons to endure another 82 regular season games, and could ultimately be too difficult to pass up.
One possibility is Garnett essentially holds out for as long as possible and waits for training camp to conclude before committing to his 20th season.
