Cleveland Cavaliers have dealt with numerous injuries this season, and they especially had problems with keeping their big men healthy. When Andrew Bogut went down with an injury, after playing less than one minute for the Cavaliers, head coach Tyronn Lue wanted to bring Kevin Garnett to play for him. Garnett, who retired a year ago, declined his request, and it doesn't seem that we will ever see him play in the NBA again.
Kevin Garnett last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team he spent 14 seasons playing for. His glorious career came to an end after 2015/16 season and Garnett has no intention of returning to the NBA, at least not as a player.
After two decades in the league, Garnett had gone through a lot and he won a championship ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008. His career was glorious and he established himself as one of the greatest power forwards to ever play in the NBA.
Cleveland Cavaliers would have a lot of benefit from Garnett
Even though is 40, Kevin Garnett could still be a big contributor to any NBA team, especially a championship contender. Coach Tyronn Lue understands it, and that is why he wanted to bring Garnett to Cleveland, as he knows that he'd help his team win another championship. Garnett's locker room presence is invaluable and he could have helped the Cavaliers with leadership as well.
“I was like, ‘Man, you should come back and play for me.’ He was like, ‘Man, you all have a lot going on over there.
If you and James Posey were still playing, I would come.’ But he said, ‘But y’all are coaching and y’all are going through what you’re going through,’” recalled Tyronn Lue. Garnett was referring to the Cavaliers' midseason struggles and he knew it was tough for Lue, but he had to deal with it. At the end, the head coach told Garnett he would call him to play for him next year.
Lue wanted Garnett in Cleveland even before the season started
Shortly after Kevin Garnett retired, Tyronn Lue tried to talk him to come back to the NBA and be an assistant coach for the Cavaliers. The 15-time all-star said he wasn't ready for the NBA yet, but he said that he might do it in the future. Lue said that he'd make a spot for him if he decides to come back and be a coach.
Tyronn Lue was a Celtics assistant coach when Garnett played in Boston and there is no doubt that two of them would work well together. James Posey also played in Boston with Garnett, and is now a Cavaliers coach. If Garnett decides to accept Lue's offer, he would be surrounded by his former teammate and coach, and would most likely do a great job in such environment.