Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said that while different media sources were speculating about trade possibilities for Kevin Garnett for some time, the only trade that even came close before the actual deal was made was an earlier conversation with the Celtics before the June NBA draft.
"Had the Celtics being willing to give up their fifth pick in the first round and the player we wanted [Florida's Al Horford] been available, plus Al Jefferson, we might have considered that trade," Taylor said. "But they didn't agree to that. Furthermore, at the time, Kevin's agent said he wouldn't go there. They didn't want to make a commitment to him unless he was committed to them."
Taylor said a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers was never close because there was a third team, Charlotte, involved, and the Bobcats never agreed.
Taylor said he did take some calls from NBA owners who had an interest in Garnett, and when that happened, he called Garnett and "just told him that it could leak out in the paper or someplace like that, that he didn't get upset or worried about it."