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Nets get Thaddeus Young for Kevin Garnett

By Net Income
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Well, one deal got done, the one no one saw coming.

David Aldridge, Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Stein are all reporting that Kevin Garnett has decided to go home to Minnesota where he began his NBA career, clearing the way for the Nets to acquire Thaddeus Young, the 6'8" power forward.

Aldridge was first to report on KG waiving his no trade clause.

The news was quickly followed by an official announcement from his long-time agent, Andy Miller

The 6'8" Young is averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds in 33 minutes, shooting 45.1 percent overall and 29.2 from three, both below his career averages and way below his numbers in Philadelphia the year before when he had his best season as a pro. He's 26 years old, 12 years younger than Garnett. He was drafted by Billy King in 2007. He earns $9.4 million this season and has a player option for next season, at nearly $10 million. Even if he opts out, the Nets control his Bird Rights and can offer him more than any other team, if they choose.

The Nets also received a $2.4 million trade exception in the deal.

Young has started to play much better since Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin returned from long injury absences. He is also a trusted veteran and valued voice in the locker room.  The T-Wolves gave up a first round pick, Alexey Shved and Luc Mbah a Moute for Young last summer in a trade with Philly.

"We are very pleased to add Thaddeus to our roster," said Billy King. "He is a versatile, athletic forward who will provide us with added flexibility in our frontcourt rotation. In addition, I want to thank Kevin for his contributions over the past two seasons and wish him well in the future."

"It’s just part of the game," said Mason Plumlee, who Garnett has helped develop. "I’m happy for him. I think it’s neat he gets to go back.

"I know he still has his home in Minnesota, so he gets to go back where he started out, and he’s their franchise’s best player ever, so I think it’s pretty neat he gets to go home and finish that way."

Markel Brown put it succinctly in a tweet.


"Every morning at 8 in the morning, KG is at that practice facility," Lionel Hollins said. "Every practice he’s giving you all he has. Every moment he’s on the court he’s giving all he has. In the locker room he’s giving all he has.

"That’s all you can ask for. Some nights it’s really good, some nights it’s not so good, but that is what you ask."

Garnett, who was traded to the Nets in the biggest trade since the Nets moved to Brooklyn, finished his tenure with the Nets averaging 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in 42 games. The future Hall of Famer started every game he was available but in recent weeks, his numbers dropped as Lionel Hollins tried playing seven-footers Brook Lopez and Mason Plumlee together.

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