Wolves 2014-15: Leader of the Pack Returns

English: Kevin Garnett playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have joined the trend of local pro sports teams bringing back star players and fan favorites on their way to retirement, mostly to shore up the remaining goodwill they have left and to perhaps sell a few tickets and jerseys.  The Vikings brought back Randy Moss for what turned out to be a brief second act, and are now working on Adrian Peterson (though he's reportedly having misgivings about coming back here).  Torii Hunter returned to the Twins after several years away, spending time with the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers.

Now the Wolves are the latest to spin the "Welcome Back Kotter"  theme in reclaiming Kevin Garnett, for whom they traded Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets.  Previously, they also put out the "re-welcome" mat for Flip Saunders, who last coached the team in 2005.

Garnett played his first 12 NBA seasons in Minnesota starting in 1995, having been signed right out of high school.  He led the Wolves to eight consecutive playoff appearances, culminating in the 2004 Western Conference finals that they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.  Two unhappy years later, KG was sent packing to the Boston Celtics.

Garnett is still the greatest and most popular Timberwolf in the franchise's history.  But he's 38 now, and in his 20th NBA season.  He's already won an NBA title with the Celtics in 2008, which continued another trend of Minnesota-based players who achieved their championships somewhere else.  He's nearing the end of his career, and has mentioned at least once that he'd like to own the Wolves someday.  So presumably Garnett will just play a little, mentor the younger players and cash a few checks before calling it a career.

Garnett returns to a franchise that hasn't been relevant since he left town, save for Kevin Love.  The Wolves are 11-42 at the All Star break, thanks mainly to veterans like Ricky Rubio getting hurt and rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine being thrust into service.  The Wolves aren't the worst team in the NBA (that dishonor goes to the New York Knicks), but most basketball pundits believe they have the brightest future IF ONLY the Knicks or Lakers don't get there first.  And the Wolves' management doesn't screw it up like they usually do.

The Timberwolves will not make the playoffs this season, but you already knew that.  They will, however, be competitive in jersey sales as fans will queue up to purchase the new version of Kevin Garnett's old #21 uniform (or some officially-licensed knockoff of it).  Back on the court, the returning leader of the pack is expected to teach his new teammates something Wolves fans have been waiting to see since he left--how to win.  If Kevin Garnett succeeds in doing that, his work is done.