Taylor never said he thought Garnett wasn’t playing with maximum
effort during games. What the Wolves’ owner said was that Garnett
tanked it by not playing the last five games of the season. I certainly
don’t want to put words in Taylor’s mouth. And I’m not defending what
he said. His comment speaks for itself. But it’s important that people
understand things in the appropriate context. People are entitled to
their emotions and opinions. Hopefully those will be based on what
Taylor really said. 
 
 
Wolves VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale said this about his
owner’s comments regarding Kevin Garnett on Tuesday: "Kevin Garnett
always played hard for us, always. You never had to worry about that.
And in 12 years with both of them, I never heard Glen say anything
negative about K.G., ever." That why McHale said he was "astounded" to
read comments Taylor made to three reporters before the team’s annual
photo shoot Tuesday and by the national flap those comments made.
 
 
 

Taylor’s remarks were a big surprise to me because they were out of
character for him. But when I talked to him Wednesday, Taylor did not
back down from his statements, but did not want to further comment on
the matter. 

 
 
 
I could ask him why he feels a need to hang on like this. I could
point out that McHale made the best trade possible in this instance –
picking up cap relief and a 23 year-old stud who is already averaging
21 and 11 per game. I could point out that the KG trade was the best
possible move for both sides; it didn’t net the Wolves Tyson Chandler,
Luol Deng, and a chance at Brandon Roy, but considering the context of
the summer of 2007, it was a blockbuster for the Timberwolves, too.
 
I could wonder about the sort of underlying and unspoken
feelings that tend to result in an inappropriate, unsolicited, and downright
stupid slam at the best thing that has ever happened to Glen Taylor’s
franchise.
 
  
 
Saunders’ response to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor ‘s comment that
Kevin Garnett "tanked" games in his last year in Minnesota. "Anyone who
has played with or coached Kevin knows that’s the farthest thing from
the truth. Everyone who has ever gotten out of there, there’s always
something said about them (by Taylor).
 
"So I guess they should be happy with where they are at (16-50). All their problems are gone."
 

 

If Taylor believed a year ago that Garnett tanked it and said nothing, then he collaborated in a lie and in duping Wolves fans. 

And then just like that, KG was traded on July 31, and his new team was
first-class and the organization that had paid him an average stipend
of $15.5 million per season for 12 seasons was dirt under his sneakers.
 
Does this give us a hint as to why Taylor has been carrying around some resentment for 7 1/2 months and it came out Tuesday?