Although Brooklyn Nets veteran Kevin Garnett said he's not thinking about a buyout, some in the NBA community believe he will end up with the Los Angeles Clippers and reunite with his former coach, Doc Rivers, before the season ends. If Garnett were to negotiate a buyout with Brooklyn, he would have to be bought out and signed with Los Angeles before March 1.
Brooklyn (18-28) is only two-and-a-half games out from a playoff spot, but their present spiral - losing seven of their last nine games, including four straight - makes a deep run in the postseason seem unlikely. At least one NBA analyst believes Garnett, whom many expect to retire when his contract expires this summer, will seek a buyout this season and join Rivers in Los Angeles.
"My bold prediction: Kevin Garnett will reach a buyout with the Nets and join the Clippers," ESPN analyst Jalen Rose said during Friday's broadcast of the Brooklyn-Toronto game, according to the New York Post.
If Garnett did want to play what is in all likelihood his final NBA season with the Clippers, he would have to sign with them by March 1 in order to be playoff-eligible. Los Angeles is hard-capped and has limited money to offer him, unless Rivers clears more cap space before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
For his part, though, Garnett appears willing to stick it out in Brooklyn.
"I haven't really thought about the intangibles on the side. I don't know what management is going to do," Garnett said after Sunday's practice. "When my situation comes up, I'll obviously give it some attention. Other than that, my attention is trying to get us on a winning streak, get us on a road where everybody's playing together. If you have another level, go to it. I haven't even thought about my own personal [contract situation].''
