Dunking With Wolves
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This Day In Timberwolves History: Garnett traded to Celtics

By Ben Beecken

Dec 28, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Garnett (21) pounds his chest before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Garnett (21) pounds his chest before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington (2) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Thaddeus Young (33) and guard Mo Williams (25) at Staples Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 120-119. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington (2) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Thaddeus Young (33) and guard Mo Williams (25) at Staples Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 120-119. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

As for those draft picks? They both came to fruition in 2009, which was the infamous David Kahn-led point guard mania.

The Wolves also deftly traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington in exchange for the fifth-overall selection in the 2009 draft, meaning that they held both #5 and #6. We all know what happened: Minnesota took Rubio at #5 (good) and passed on Stephen Curry to take Jonny Flynn #6 (awful).

Flynn was a promising rookie and showed flashes of being a solid NBA point guard until a severe hip injury derailed his career. He was traded in the other infamous, Kahn-led draft: the great trade-back fundraising debacle of 2011.

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The 2011-12 season was Flynn’s last in the NBA. He played in summer league in 2013 for the Pacers and the Magic, and most recently played in Italy in 2014 before an injury ended his season.

Wayne Ellington has become a decent NBA role player. A career 37.6 percent three-point shooter, Ellington spent two-plus seasons with the Timberwolves before playing for five different teams over the past four seasons. This off-season he signed with Miami, making it six teams in five years.

All things considered, the Wolves received nothing approaching reasonable value for Garnett. Jefferson has been a solid NBA player for a decade now, but never reached the All-Star-level of play that so many envisioned him achieving.

Green, Ellington, and to a lesser extent, Gomes and Telfair, all managed to be rotation-worthy role players to varying degrees — fine, of course, but not in exchange for one of the 12-15 best players of all-time.

Ratliff was a throw-in, and Flynn was a mistake when he was drafted and an unfortunate, injury-laden bust when it was all said and done.

But cheer up, Wolves fans. The Kevin Love trade appears to have gone much better, no?