NBA Wire Notes | Lakers pursue Garnett

LOS ANGELES — The owners of the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have started talks for a trade that would involve sending standout forward Kevin Garnett to the Lakers, league sources said Monday.

The talks turned into discussions about a four-way deal among the Lakers, Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, in which the Lakers would have acquired Garnett. But the proposed deal broke down, reportedly because the Celtics did not like what they would have received, ending the four-way negotiations.

Thus the Lakers are back to direct talks with the Timberwolves.

But sources say Minnesota general manager Kevin McHale wants young players and early draft choices and isn't keen on the Lakers' offer of Andrew Bynum, who is young (19), and Lamar Odom (27), who isn't.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor spoke by phone for about 20 minutes Friday. Buss reportedly ended the conversation by suggesting Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and McHale continue the discussion Monday.

In another scenario, Los Angeles could part with center Kwame Brown in the deal and also acquire Troy Hudson or Marko Jaric to fill a need for a guard while lifting an unfavorable contract off the Timberwolves' books.

Acquiring Garnett could address the concerns of Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant, who has demanded to be traded for more than four weeks.

Bryant met with Kupchak for about an hour Friday, a day after Garnett rejected a trade that would have sent him to Boston.

Bryant did not step down from his desire to be traded. But Kupchak, Buss and Lakers coach Phil Jackson met later that day to discuss options based on the assumption they would still have Bryant, the Los Angeles Times learned.

Garnett, 31, has never formally asked for a trade. The 10-time All-Star can opt out of his contract after next season. He wants an extension, which Buss reportedly told Taylor he was willing to offer.

Garnett is to earn $22 million in the 2007-08 season and has a player option for $24 million in 2008-09.

Garnett averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocks last season. He spent the last five games of the season in Southern California — he has a home in Malibu — to rest a sore right quadriceps.

Bryant has said the root of his unhappiness with Lakers management is not having a chance to win a championship. Adding Garnett would give the team a strong one-two combo.

Notes

• Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups has opted out of the final year of his six-year contract, making the 30-year-old an unrestricted free agent heading into the summer signing season.

"He informed the team this morning that he was opting out of his final year with the Pistons and that makes him a free agent — which we expected," team spokesman Matt Dobek said.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound All-Star has said he would prefer to stay with Detroit and expects to be back if the team can match the best deal he can find from another team. Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations, has said his top priority is re-signing Billups.

• Before the Lakers-Timberwolves discussions became public, much of the buzz around the league involved the Phoenix Suns, who have scheduled workouts today with draft prospects Joakim Noah of Florida, Brandan Wright of North Carolina, Corey Brewer of Florida and Jeff Green of Georgetown, a source confirmed. None of those players is expected to be available to Phoenix with the 24th and 29th selections, fueling speculation the Suns are close to moving into the top 10 of the draft.

The person with knowledge of the workouts also said the Suns and Celtics have engaged in "pretty legit" discussions involving Boston's No. 5 pick and Phoenix forward Shawn Marion.

• Atlanta, which has the third pick in the first round, reportedly is considering a deal for Portland forward Zach Randolph.

• Although Bryant apparently would like to join the Bulls, Chicago general manager John Paxson said he has had no discussions with the Lakers and added that a deal would be difficult to complete.

"What we would have to give up — unless that franchise would ever have a change of heart and had to do something — I don't know how that would work," Paxson said. "They've got one of the top, maybe the top, talents in the league. What we would have to do to get there, I don't even know what it would be. It would be significant. And then, are we better?"

Compiled from Los Angeles Times, Newsday, McClatchy Newspapers and The Associated Press.