Brooklyn Nets: Should Nets Fans Be Excited with Kevin Garnett?

Kevin Garnett is a former NBA MVP and an NBA Champion. He will become a free agent after this season.

Back in March, the New York Daily News reported that the Nets may have interest in Garnett this offseason. While Garnett's name alone should draw interest and make fans excited, should they really be excited? Is Garnett truly an upgrade from what they have gotten out of the power forward position?

Garnett is 36-years-old and well past his prime. His next contract could very well be his last.

In his prime, Garnett would average over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. From 1999 to 2008, he averaged 22 points and just over 12 rebounds a game. He also averaged around 76 games a season.

Unfortunately, Garnett is not that player anymore. Despite his recent resurgence in the playoffs, Garnett is not a 20 point, 10 rebound player in the regular season. However, he did average 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds a game this season.

While that is not MVP type numbers, they are still respectable numbers.

The Nets starting power forward the last two seasons has been Kris Humphries. He has emerged as a solid forward in the NBA and has averaged 11.7 points and 10.7 rebounds a game over the last two seasons. 

Humphries is a solid player that will demand a long contract this offseason. He does not have the same scoring ability as Garnett, but at this point in their careers he's a better rebounder. 

The Nets could and should look to bring back Humphries and sign Garnett, as it would give them two different types of players and give them much needed depth.

The two biggest thing that Garnett would bring to the Nets is defense and leadership. As we have seen in the playoffs, Garnett can still be a dominating player defensively. He is able to make plays on both ends of the court.

The Nets are a relatively young team with the need for a veteran leader who knows how to win. The Nets need to start surrounding themselves with winners.

Garnett is known for being an aggressive and sometimes dirty player. That could be the personality and edge that the Nets need. He would give the Nets an identity which they have been missing since Jason Kidd was running the offense.

So should Nets fans be excited about the possibility of Kevin Garnett coming to Brooklyn?