2012 NBA Free Agents: Best Potential Landing Spots for Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is going to be a very popular guy this summer, now that Dwight Howard is staying in Orlando and Tim Duncan is staying in San Antonio (or retiring).

Garnett is no spring chicken. He'll be 36 when next season begins, but he's stayed healthy enough to play in 59 games for Boston this season and his production—18.3 points per game, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists—has been right in line with his career average. He might be older, but he's still worth a lot—especially to teams without much experience or skill up front.

Without a lot of other elite big men on the free-agent market in 2012, Garnett is likely to be courted by a number of teams. Here is a list of Garnett's possible destinations for next season.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets will have a new identity in Brooklyn next season, and with it, they could have a new veteran heading up the frontcourt. According to the Sporting News, the Nets are targeting Garnett.

Though they're considering both Garnett and Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova, Garnett is the right option if they want a big name to help bring hype to the Nets as they move into their new home. Look at what Garnett did for the Celtics when he first came to Boston. He had the passion and the intensity to make people to care again, to get them excited.

Since transitioning from the 4 to the 5 this season, Garnett's production has increased and he's been rejuvenated, playing harder for shorter spurts. He obviously still has the skill and competitive nature to help the Nets gear up for a championship run in their first season in Brooklyn.

Chicago Bulls

If the Bulls try to dispose of Carlos Boozer and his big contract this summer, they'll be in the market for a replacement, and Garnett could make sense for them as they try to make up for his production.

This season in Chicago, Boozer is averaging 15.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. At 30, he's several years younger than Garnett, his production wasn't as good this season. Garnett obviously isn't a long-term answer for Chicago, but the Bulls could unload a big contract and sign Garnett for substantially less while giving him a chance to reunite with former Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau.

It's not hard to believe Chicago might make some changes if its playoff run this year ends earlier than expected. Garnett could be a good fit for them—that is, if he and Joakim Noah can put their issues to bed, once and for all. 

Boston Celtics

It's not outlandish to think Boston could re-sign Garnett. The Celtics could afford him if he agreed to take a bit of a pay cut, and if they don't plan to re-sign Ray Allen (which, most likely, they don't).

Currently, Garnett makes $21. 2 million per year, which is the fourth-highest salary in the NBA, according to the Worcester Telegram's Bill Doyle. If he pulled a Ray Allen and took a pay cut to stay in Boston—Allen recently dropped his asking price from $18.8 million to $10 million to stay with the Celtics—it would make sense. Garnett is getting up there in age and he's been in Boston for five years. He understands the system and has a good relationship with head coach Doc Rivers. He might not want to start over. 

Rivers recently told Doyle: 

"

Honestly, I think he loves the team. I think he loves his teammates. They have a lot of fun together. This is a good group. That makes you want to play more. 

"

That affection for his current team just might be enough to compel him to stick around for another couple of years.