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Celtics Morning Joe: How much is KG worth?
KG earned the first part of his large contract when he signed with the Celtics via trade in 2007. He signed a five year deal with the C's. For over 20 million per season. When I say he earned the first half of the deal. He was the defensive player of the year in 2008,and he changed the mindset of the Celtics. Mainly Paul Pierce, who became a defensive force for the first time in his career. Who also became an influential force in Rondo's game. He was also the key factor for the Celtics in their quest for banner 17. The Celtics of course accomplished banner 17, but after year one, we haven't seen the same KG that earned 20 million a season. KG injured is knee, and he missed the 2009 playoffs,and the last 25 odd games in the regular season. In 2010 he was a ghost until the playoffs. KG became a major factor for the Celtics when they ousted the Cavs,and Magic on their way to the finals.
In 2011, KG had a better regular season, but nowhere near the 2008 version, and in the playoffs KG wasn't at his best, and the Celtics lost in give games to the Heat. You can't blame 2011 on KG, but he didn't get the Celtics over the top. This season, KG was struggling after the short camp after the lockout. KG started to turn his season around after he moved to center. Garnett started to play like the younger KG. He was fueled by owners talking smack, and by players saying he was washed up. But if you think KG was a 20 million a year player this season. You just don't get it. I can't knock KG for his contract that was signed in 2007. He lived up to his end of the bargain when the Celtics won the championship in 2008. But when he injured his knee in 2009. Garnett has never been fully the same since than.
But now sources have come to the for front, and claim that KG wants money from the Celtics, and he wants to know who will be on the team before he signs a deal. Well, I get that KG wants to work for a contender. He doesn't play on a team that's rebuilding. I think the Celtics should bring KG back only if they have thoughts of chasing a title, but KG also needs to take a serious pay cut. His ego may get the best of him, or it may not. But if the Celtics want to win with Rondo. They need to add younger guys who fit his style. Sounds simple, but it's not. The free agent market is slim. But back to KG. Garnett has made more than enough money. So why wouldn't KG take a cut? Kevin is 36 years old, and not on the young side. He's played in the NBA since 1996. KG could be an injury away from calling it quits.
I think KG is being unrealistic, because not many teams have cap space. The Celtics have some potential to reload, and go for another run, if KG signs a small reasonable deal. Will see what happens. Because I want KG back in Boston. He's needed, and you can't trade that for anything. What's KG worth to you?
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7 Comments
But whether or not KG's megabucks are legal, the fact is - in my opinion, anyway - they've crushed the Celtics, and they've made a mockery of his claims to LOVE the Celtics Tradition. I hope Rondo learns a lesson from this. If you want to lead a winner, don't eat up most of the Salary Cap.
If KG really loves the Celtics, as he claims, he MUST know that now is the time that we definitely need a team friendly contract with him
I want to add that it really disgusts me that the players, who couldn't stand up to the owners collectively in the Lockout contract dispute, are now playing such hardball individually. Instead of fighting cooperatively for a larger pie, they are fighting OVER a smaller pie. It's truly pathetic.
But back to the question at hand; let's not break the bank for KG this time please...
This really then becomes 3 questions: Do you want him back at all? Do you want him back if he will not play the 5? And then, how much is he worth?
In order: yes I think he should be brought back, especially if many of last years roster is not. What KG has to share and teach about work ethic and winning is an intangible not to be underestimated. At the same time, he would need to come back as a Center. Finally, his numbers were off the charts at the end of the season and in the playoffs WHEN his minutes were held down to about 28-30 a game. That really amounts to about half a game and if he is brought back, then his pay ought to be about half also, or about 10 million.
The blueprint for winning a championship is always the same. It takes a combination of experience combined with raw talent to win. As the Celts found out, experience alone is not enough. As OKC is finding out, raw talent alone is not enough. At a reasonable price, KG needs to come back.
Celticslifer says...
Can we go back to the days were players mad like 50 grand a year. Paul, u say what we feel, but were to affraid to say it,or admit.
Celticslifer, I don't actually mind the players making big money, per se. But their selfishness bugs me. They all seem to want to maximize their contracts, yet they also want to be on top teams. How is it really possible to have both? Do you want the Mega Money, or do you want to be on a winner?
There are so many dimensions to this. If the owner is worth a billion dollars, supposedly, why isn't the player worth millions? Why shouldn't a great player be 'worth' a billion? But if a great player is worth a billion, why isn't a great taco maker worth, heck, at least a million, if not a billion? When someone makes a sandwich and serves it to me, and does it really well, why is that not worth a heckuva lot? If I go into a store and the service person is knowledgeable and informative and caring, why are they not worth a billion, if the guy with the killer J is, and the guy whose family cornered the market in some product or service, no doubt cutting quite a few corners and greasing quite a few palms along the way?
But this current situation just reeks in so many ways. All these players doing their hard ball thing for big money right now - where was their toughness when the owners beat them with a paddle during the contract meltdown? The league was doing great, the owners come to the players crying poverty and the players totally knuckle under!!!!!
And they STILL haven't gotten rid of Hunter, who plainly is as corrupt as they come!! He even looks like Don King!
And then there's KG. If he loves the Celtics as much as he's been telling us he does, then wouldn't he want to come back in a team friendly way and help us with the transition we need to make? That's a big part of the Celtics tradition, and for goodness sake, his huge contract is a lot of the reason our cupboard is so bare. It helped give the owners the excuse they needed to get rid of Garnet, though I don't think it was the only reason.
We'd surely have a better society if more people would pay more attention to the deeper things that matter more.
dennee says...
That's a pretty thorough analysis and largely spot on. However, it is always about what have you done for me lately and that was real good. It also cannot be forgotten that the revival came after he moved to Center. It is well documented that he and others came into camp out of shape. So was the better second half due to finally getting into shape or because of the move to the 5? I think it was some of both, but more the move.
This really then becomes 3 questions: Do you want him back at all? Do you want him back if he will not play the 5? And then, how much is he worth?
In order: yes I think he should be brought back, especially if many of last years roster is not. What KG has to share and teach about work ethic and winning is an intangible not to be underestimated. At the same time, he would need to come back as a Center. Finally, his numbers were off the charts at the end of the season and in the playoffs WHEN his minutes were held down to about 28-30 a game. That really amounts to about half a game and if he is brought back, then his pay ought to be about half also, or about 10 million.
The blueprint for winning a championship is always the same. It takes a combination of experience combined with raw talent to win. As the Celts found out, experience alone is not enough. As OKC is finding out, raw talent alone is not enough. At a reasonable price, KG needs to come back.
I think Garnett's teaching is the thing we really need. And I'd really like to see him floating between the four and the five, with even more limited minutes. But the key is that it has to be at a reasonable price. If we pay him a massive amount of money, how do we bring in needed people?
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