June 2007
Some in the Celtics organization believe there is more smoke than substance behind agent Andy Miller's assertion that Kevin Garnett will opt out of his contract after next season if Minnesota trades him to the Celtics.
``I'm willing to bet he hasn't even talked to (Garnett) and that he's just trying to posture something so it doesn't happen,'' a Celtics source said yesterday. ``In fact, I'm pretty sure of it. So I don't put much stock in what he said.''
Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers declined comment following yesterday's workout of Florida center Al Horford and four other big men.
Garnett will earn an NBA-high $22 million next season. If dealt, he would collect another $3 million via a 15 percent trade kicker.
``Do you really think he is going to pass up the $23 million he would make the next year (in 2008-09) to go somewhere else?'' the official said. ``He would have to drop back to the league maximum wherever he went. I don't think he's going to forfeit $10 million that easily.''
Miller has spoken highly of Ainge's treatment of another of his clients - C's point guard Sebastian Telfair. However, there is a lingering suspicion within the organization that Miller's tough stance on Garnett was influenced by co-owner Wyc Grousbeck's decision to remove Telfair's nameplate from his locker after the guard was arrested for gun possession in April.
Celtics officials have known for quite some time that Garnett's preferred destination is Phoenix, though the Suns are reportedly unwilling to part with the player who would make the deal work - Amare Stoudemire.
Other teams, including Dallas, are expected to join what is becoming an auction for Garnett, but the Celtics' offer - Al Jefferson and this year's No. 5 draft pick, plus add-ons - still is considered the best.
That would give the Timberwolves two of the top seven picks in Thursday's draft.
Two good
Rivers has narrowed his own preference on whom to draft to two players, ``and I'm pretty sure Danny is thinking the same way,'' he said.
Rivers refused to elaborate, but the qualities that have most excited him in the current draft crop - basketball IQ, toughness, readiness to contribute - most apply to Horford and his two former teammates at Florida - Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah.
``They're winners,'' Rivers said. ``You can see that in them - like the way they walk into a gym. But it's not just the Florida kids. The great thing about this draft is that it's a great character draft.''
If there was even a sliver of doubt about the level of competitiveness shared by Horford, Brewer and Noah, it has come out in these workouts.
Noah took part in his despite a partially torn rotator cuff.
Horford competed yesterday with a mildly sprained left ankle that was taped. Although he's not expected to be available when the Celtics make their pick, he ran through drills with Joel Anthony (UNLV), Larry Turner (Tennessee State), Ali Traore (France) and Ryvon Corville (Detroit) but limited his contact to time with Celtics assistant Clifford Ray, who was armed with a blocking pad.
But the fact that he even worked out for a team that doesn't expect to have the chance to draft him may say something.
``My agent (Aaron Goodwin) just felt it would be good for me to experience the workout process,'' he said. ``If I go out there and put everything on the line, things will takes care of themselves.''
Time trials
``The Florida guys have their own competition going,'' Rivers said, referring to the number of court lengths each has logged in the team's three-minute lap drill.
Brewer and Noah each ran 27 1/2 court lengths in three minutes. The bulkier Horford ran 26 1/2 lengths.
``No other team has a three-minute killer run, so that was different,'' said Horford, who was impressed by yesterday's visit.
``It's the top of the line here,'' he said. ``It shows how much class they have.'' . . .
The Celtics' final scheduled workout is Wednesday, with Boston College's Jared Dudley part of the group.
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