Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“This could be just the start of a long-term relationship,” Eagle said. “Kevin’s got a lot of interests outside of just playing basketball, as we know, and I think he saw Brooklyn as an opportunity to try to capitalize on a number of those interests. When the smoke clears, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin Garnett has some role moving forward beyond his basketball-playing years, whether it’s within the Nets organization, whether it’s with ownership, whether it’s within the marketing aspect of this team, whether it’s just within Brooklyn. That could be something to keep an eye on down the road. Kevin sees a bigger picture here than just playing one more year with the Nets.”
There is admittedly very little news out there, which is probably why this thing has started to make the rounds.
Nets play-by-play man Ian Eagle was answering a question about KG’s future, and gave the above answer. That bit of rampant speculation has been turned by some into “Garnett eyeing post-basketball position with the Nets.”
Bullshit.
Let’s look at the quote again. This time, with some emphasis.
“This could be just the start of a long-term relationship,” Eagle said. “Kevin’s got a lot of interests outside of just playing basketball, as we know, and I think he saw Brooklyn as an opportunity to try to capitalize on a number of those interests. When the smoke clears, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin Garnett has some role moving forward beyond his basketball-playing years, whether it’s within the Nets organization, whether it’s with ownership, whether it’s within the marketing aspect of this team, whether it’s just within Brooklyn. That could be something to keep an eye on down the road. Kevin sees a bigger picture here than just playing one more year with the Nets.”
Not a single fact in there. Just Eagle answering a question with a bunch of heavily couched “hey I’m just guessing here, but maybe this could happen.”
That’s validated by:
Eagle admitted that Garnett is “a tough guy to read,” but he could certainly see him interested in staying with the organization — just not on the bench. “My feeling is not from a coaching standpoint,” Eagle added. “That would shock me, something like that. I just don’t see — he just takes every possession so seriously and it would drive him nuts.
“But I do think he’s got a bigger picture in mind. Whether it’s the brand, whether it’s the global aspect, there’s something else there with Kevin. I don’t think he’s the guy who’s just going to go away and you never hear from him. Kevin’s going to dabble in a bunch of different things.”
I don’t know Kevin Garnett at all. He might decide he loves Brooklyn and wants to stay there. But that doesn’t fit KG’s MO. He didn’t live in the heart of Boston when he played here… he went to a private nook in Concord. He’s not the type of multi-millionaire to find a Manhattan penthouse and be spotted everywhere he goes for dinner.
I can see Garnett going to China a lot to pump up his Anta shoe sales. I can see Garnett going somewhere to make commercials for a while. But I don’t think KG is a very public guy, and what Eagle is suggesting is that Garnett would take a very public role.
Eagle was just answering the question, though. And while I disagree with him, I’ve got no problem with what he’s said. My problem is that you’re being misled as you cruise through the web today by deceptive headlines. KG has not said he’s eyeing anything. Hell, KG hasn’t even said that he’s actually coming back. KG hasn’t said anything that we truly know of this summer because he, in true KG fashion, is nowhere to be found by unwanted microphones or cameras.
So when you see something out there and wonder “why on Earth would KG want to work for Brooklyn after he’s done playing?”… consider how speculation was twisted into a “report.”
Page 2: Rondo spotted again
Just add this fan to the list of non-journalists who’ve had positive interactions with Rondo.
And Finally….
#NBA Tim Hardaway Jr. y Marcus Smart se han picado y están lanzando triples desde la grada del MGM. #boost #adidas pic.twitter.com/nmwpenOCqC
— Dani Hidalgo (@danihidalgo) July 27, 2014
Marcus Smart is in Vegas for Adidas.
Hold on… let me channel the internet for a minute…
“WHAT’S HE DOIN SCREWIN AROUND IN THE STANDS? HE SHOULD BE TAKIN REAL JUMPERS!”
The rest of the links:
Globe: Celtics appear to be an ideal match for Evan Turner
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