Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 worst trades in Timberwolves history

By Ian Kasdan

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 23: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers runs down court after making a shot to overcome a 23 point deficit to defeat the the Dallas Mavericks 84-82 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 23: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers runs down court after making a shot to overcome a 23 point deficit to defeat the the Dallas Mavericks 84-82 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett
BOSTON – FEBRUARY 3: Celtics center Kevin Garnett (#5) pounds his chest. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Kevin Garnett to Boston

Following a 2006-2007 season that saw the Minnesota Timberwolves miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season, the clock was ticking on the Kevin Garnett era in Minnesota.

The Wolves went 32-50 in 2006-07, replaced Dwane Casey midseason with Randy Wittman, and were struggling due to a poor roster made up of multiple draft busts. To put the season into perspective, Garnett and Ricky Davis were the only Timberwolves to average more than 13 points per game.

After 12 seasons in Minnesota, including eight postseason appearances, 10 All-Star Game nominations, and the 2003-04 MVP award, Garnett was the Wolves’ all-time leader in nearly every statistical category. Following the 2006-07 season, Garnett led the Wolves all-time with 970 games played, 19,201 points, 4,216 assists, and 10,718 total rebounds.

Despite the numerous accolades, the Wolves were facing a rebuild and wanted to do right by Garnett. With two years left on his five-year, $100 million contract, the Wolves decided that it was time to give Garnett the opportunity to pursue a championship after failing to provide a suitable roster to support him for over a decade.

As the Wolves were contemplating how to begin their rebuild and find the right suitor for Garnett, a star entering the final years of his prime, the Boston Celtics were in the midst of building a superteam.

At the 2007 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics acquired Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics, which in turn gave the Celtics an all star-duo of Allen and Paul Pierce. However, the Celtics were not yet finished transitioning their roster into title contenders.

On July 31st, 2007, the Wolves sent Garnett to Boston for what was then the largest trade haul in NBA history. Garnett initially refused to accept the trade to Boston; however, despite his loyalty to Minnesota, Garnett would later consent to the trade due to Minnesota’s insistence on trading him.

The key player in the return for Garnett was Al Jefferson, a 23-year-old center the Wolves viewed as a player they could center their rebuild around. But, the Wolves’ acquisition in the 2008 NBA Draft, Kevin Love, proved to be an unnatural fit next to Jefferson. Deciding to instead focus their rebuild around Love, the Wolves would trade Jefferson to the Utah Jazz in the 2010 offseason.

The 2009 first-round picks received in the trade would be used on Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington. None of the players received or drafted from the Garnett trade would play longer than three seasons in Minnesota.

dark. Next. 3 training camp storylines for the Wolves

As the Wolves would continue their rebuilding efforts into the next decade, Garnett would continue his hall-of-fame worthy play. In the 2007-08 season, Garnett was awarded Defensive Player of the Year and would go on to win his sole NBA championship with the Boston Celtics.