NBA Rumors: Latest on Kevin Garnett, Luke Ridnour and More

The NBA rumor mill has been generating a ton of interesting topics over the past few weeks, and things should only continue to heat up with the Feb. 21 trade deadline quickly approaching.

There’s been talk ranging from major superstars from the league’s most popular teams moving down to role players on non-contenders being shipped off for various reasons.

Let’s take a look at some of the latest buzz on potential deals and other possible transactions in Friday’s rumor roundup.

Kevin Garnett

When Rajon Rondo first went down for the season with a torn ACL, there was a surge of rumors that Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge might consider blowing up the veteran squad and entering a rebuilding mode.

That culminated with a report that the Los Angeles Clippers were apparently discussing a deal that would send Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler to Beantown in exchange for The Big Ticket.

However, the C’s have ripped off a five-game winning streak since their point guard went down, and now Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe is reporting that the two organizations never discussed any possible deal, including the rumored one with the Clips.

It’s also been said that KG will not waive his no-trade clause to go to a team he does not desire to be with, including the Denver Nuggets (as per Mark Kislza of The Denver Post).

Unless the Celtics fall apart over the next two weeks, we expect Garnett to remain a member of the squad.

Samuel Dalembert

The Milwaukee Bucks center is fresh off a ridiculous performance in which the journeyman scored 35 points (on 17-of-21 shooting), pulled down 12 boards, dished two assists and blocked a shot, so naturally team brass is still looking to trade him.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the organization has been shopping Dalembert for a while due the to solid play of Larry Sanders—a third-year center—in 2012-13.

Dalembert has participated in just 28 games this year (starting in 16) and is averaging 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 16.1 minutes of play. In comparison, Sanders has played in 45 contest (starting in 29) and puts up 8.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and a whopping 3.2 blocks in 25.4 minutes.

The veteran is playing on a $6.7 million contract set to expire after the season, while Sanders is still on a relatively cheap four-year, $8.64 million deal that runs out after the 2014-15 campaign.

It’s clear why the franchise would rather go with the younger, cheaper option, but it will be hard to let go of Dalembert if he keeps putting up those monster games.

Luke Ridnour

For all the injury issues the Minnesota Timberwolves have had this year, point guard depth has not been an issue. That’s exactly why it makes sense that Ridnour is reportedly on the block and could very well be dealt before the deadline.

According to Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops, an NBA insider tipped the reporter off that “there is a good chance” the veteran PG is on his way out of the Twin Cities in the next two weeks.

With Ricky Rubio emerging as the cornerstone of the club and Jose Juan Barea locked up until 2014-15, there just isn’t the amount of minutes to justify the Oregon product's $4-plus million salary over the next two years.

Even though Ridnour has averaged a solid 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in approximately 30.7 minutes per contest, his time on the floor has been dipping and he represents more value to the franchise as a trade asset.

The Utah Jazz are one team rumored to be highly interested in acquiring a PG, as Mo Williams is out until at least March and Earl Watson is nicked up.

Don’t be surprised to see the T-Wolves swing a deal with the Salt Lake City-based team—or possibly another PG-needy franchise—in the coming days.