Loy’s Place plays host to Carnival of the NBA #52- Thankgiving Edition. Check it out for links to the latest news from around the hoops blogosphere. 
 
 
Steve Aschburner/SI.com grades the league’s expansion teams and gives the Wolves a C-.
Mixed methods (win now vs. build for later), lousy lottery luck and mediocre drafts kept this team down for a while. The gamble on Garnett paid off big, and acquiring Stephon Marbury in ’96 was precisely the right move at the time. The ’98 lockout was the beginning of the end, with Tom Gugliotta leaving for Phoenix, Marbury demanding a trade and owner Glen Taylor and VP Kevin McHale conspiring illegally to sign Joe Smith. Forfeited and shaky picks in time left the cupboard bare.
 
 
Garnett’s agent, Andy Miller, didn’t believe the Wolves were serious
about trading their all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and
assists until early June. Eager to add the future Hall of Famer, the
Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Bulls, and Mavericks were the main teams
showing interest, according to an NBA source.
 
The source said the Warriors’ package for Garnett included forward Al
Harrington, center Andris Biedrins, guard Monta Ellis, and the 18th
pick in this year’s draft. The Lakers dangled forward Lamar Odom and
center Andrew Bynum but couldn’t acquire a high draft pick to sweeten
the offer. Chicago spoke of sending Ben Gordon or Luol Deng, plus Tyrus
Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha, and P.J. Brown in a sign-and-trade and their
ninth overall pick for Garnett and another player. Dallas offered
anybody but 2007 NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki.