Could Kevin Garnett Be Sticking Around Boston Celtics After All?

Trade talks between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers that would have sent Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to L.A. have broken down (again), which means KG might end up staying in Boston after all.

According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, a source said "KG in Boston is a very good option."

This could all be a ploy by the Celtics to coax more compensation out of the notoriously stingy Clippers, who are reluctant to part with a first-round pick in a deal for Rivers. Talks regarding both Rivers and Garnett would probably resume quickly if L.A. was willing to offer more than the second-round selection it has been trying to throw at the Celtics since discussions began.

Remember, the deals for Rivers and Garnett are separate in name only. If L.A. offers up that first-rounder in 2014 for Rivers, you can bet the Celtics will suddenly fall back in love with sending Garnett away for DeAndre Jordan.

It's extremely difficult to imagine Garnett wanting to return to the Celtics for one more run after all of the offseason uncertainty. And if Rivers leaves the Celtics to return to his career in broadcasting (a real option, by the way), Garnett might not like the idea of dealing with a new coach in his final year.

Even if Rivers returns, Boston's key players might not be too keen on going into battle with a coach that spent weeks trying to end up with another team. The Celtics' mantra over the past few years has focused on brotherhood and loyalty.

Rivers may have irreparably broken the trust that held this team together.

Plus, general manager Danny Ainge has been toying with the idea of blowing up the Celtics for some time. With Paul Pierce's buyout option expiring on June 30, this might be his best chance to do so.

Garnett won't want anything to do with a rebuilding effort. So, if Paul Pierce goes, KG could easily sour on the idea of playing another season in Boston.

In fact, the more closely you look at the Celtics' situation, the more it seems that Garnett's return to Boston might only consist of a press conference in which he announces his retirement.