Before Kevin Garnett became the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics’ 2008 championship run, he was on the verge of taking his talents to their biggest rivals. In a surprising revelation, it has come to light that Garnett was nearly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers before his blockbuster move to Boston in 2007.
At the time, Garnett was the cornerstone of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise but had grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s lack of postseason success. The Wolves were looking to rebuild, and trade talks began circulating around the league. One of the most serious contenders was the Lakers, led by a prime Kobe Bryant and desperate to return to championship contention.
Reports indicate that the Lakers and Timberwolves held multiple discussions about a potential deal that would have paired Garnett with Bryant—a duo that could have drastically altered NBA history. However, negotiations fell apart due to complications around the Lakers’ refusal to part with key assets, including Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, as well as uncertainty over Garnett’s willingness to commit to Los Angeles long-term.
Ultimately, it was the Boston Celtics who pulled off the historic trade, sending a package including Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and multiple first-round picks to Minnesota. Garnett joined forces with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to form the iconic “Big Three,” leading the Celtics to a dominant 2007–08 season and their first NBA title in over two decades.
Had the Lakers completed the deal, Garnett’s legacy—and the balance of power in the NBA—might have looked entirely different. Instead, his arrival in Boston reignited a storied franchise and reshaped the league for years to come. The near-miss with the Lakers remains one of the great “what-ifs” in modern NBA h
istory.
