Kevin Garnett contemplating retirement – NBA News
Danny Ainge, the President of Basketball operations of the Boston Celtics, has said that there is still uncertainty regarding the future of All Star forward Kevin Garnett.
Ainge spoke with Garnett last week but said that Garnett was still undecided about his future and needed more time to think what was best for him. Talking to Boston Sports Radio WEEI 93.7 FM, Ainge said:
“Kevin and I had a good conversation last week and the conversation was mostly on how he needs time before he makes that decision. I think we'll talk within the next week, but I'm not so sure that's a decision day for him. He may
want to wait and see what sort of team we have. I'm not sure.”
Garnett had an amazing finish to a successful season when he led the Celtics to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals and lost to the Miami Heat in 7 games. After starting out slow, Garnett and the Celtics picked up their game in the
2nd half of the season and finished 4th in the Eastern Conference.
However, Garnett is 36 already and has put up a mammoth effort to compete day in and day out at the highest level in a lockout shortened season, in the hope of winning one more championship with the core of the Celtics intact.
Now, he is considering retirement, but Ainge said that if he decides to continue playing, he will most probably return to Boston.
"I know that he wants to come back. I know he likes Boston, and I know he loves playing for (coach) Doc (Rivers). He loves everything about the team and the city and so forth. I think that his decision will be, 'Do I really want
to play? Or do I not want to play’,” added Ainge.
Garnett is all set to become a free agent on July 1st. The Boston Celtics will need to know his future plans so they can tackle the free agency and NBA Draft. Not only will the Celtics have to build their team accordingly,
but they also need to know the cap space they have available for next season and Garnett’s decision is key for that.
Ainge acknowledged the fact that Garnett has the option of signing with another team. There were even reports of Garnett possibly moving to San Antonio to play with his rival Tim Duncan after the Celtics lost in the Eastern Conference
Finals.
However, he believed that if Garnett did return, he would love to come back and play for the Celtics. In his mind, the only decision Garnett needed to make was whether to retire or not.
"I don't think that's what he wants to do, but it is a possibility, sure. I didn't get that feeling, but he definitely has that option,” said Ainge.
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