I know Brooklyn was missing Brook Lopez, but man was that pathetic. Cs played like a good team -- I've upped my prediction to about 32-35 wins from 30-32 wins -- but that was utter destruction. We were up by close to 30 and basically gave up, still victorious by 16. Maybe the Nets will turn it around, and I'm not one for sensationalist reactions after just one game, but they did not look good. 7th-8th seed at best in my opinion. And it pains me to see a great like KG, who can still contribute at a high level, toil his final years away on this team.
Who could use him? What would it take to get him? A few hypotheticals below:
Toronto Raptorshttp://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mq62vy2TOR receives: Garnett
BKN receives: Landry Fields, Chuck Hayes, Lucas Nogueira, 2015 TOR 2nd rounder, 2017 NYK 2nd rounder (from TOR)
Golden State Warriorshttp://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lyh95raGSW receives: Garnett, Mirza Teletovic
BKN receives: David Lee, Harrison Barnes
This one I'm really torn on. It all depends on how much you value Teletovic and Barnes. Also hard to judge the willingness of Nets ownership to pay an extra year of $15 million to D. Lee in order to get Barnes if they're giving up a player with potential of his own in Teletovic. My guess is they would bite on Barnes' higher ceiling. Lee's contract also becomes slightly easier to swallow with the cap increase(s). In my opinion I think the Warriors should have to surrender a first rounder but given their obligations to Utah they cannot do this under league rules. I think the Nets would really have to plummet for this to be considered. I'm sure some of you view it from the opposite perspective, thinking the Nets made out like bandits here.
Oklahoma City Thunderhttp://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=oy54xf9OKC receives: Garnett
BKN receives: Perkins, 2015 OKC 1st rounder
Jackpot.
What do you guys think? Are there other fits around the league? Let's complete the Big Three's final ride to glory. Ray will likely join a contender midseason, Pierce is on a very competitive Wizards team... it's not right to see KG go out like this.