Back in 1995, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a bold choice by selecting Kevin Garnett as the fifth overall pick. At that time, Kevin was straight out of high school. It was a very risky move, but Garnett’s talent quickly paid off. Within two years, he achieved All-Star honors in ’97 and ’98. The Wolves even made their first playoff appearance in franchise history. However, behind the scenes, a secret plan was hatched, leading to a scandal that rocked the NBA.

To build a winning team around Garnett, the Wolves made a secret plan around the NBA rules. This operation aimed to maximize Kevin Garnett’s prime years for the team. In this story, we reveal what Commissioner David Stern called “one of the most far-reaching frauds” the NBA has ever seen.

Kevin Garnett and the Wolves’ secret plan

The journey of this secret scandal began with Joe Smith. Joe was the first pick in the same draft as Garnett. Smith’s agent, Andy Miller, was later exposed for recruiting players, some as young as 14 years old.

Making matters worse, they were accused of making under-the-table deals with athletes. Smith himself became part of an illegal plan, signing a series of one-year contracts with the Wolves that hid their true intentions.

The Wolves hoped to retain Smith’s rights by having him sign three short-term contracts instead of a single long-term deal. This maneuver would enable them to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him later.

Though their plan appeared foolproof, it eventually came to light during a court battle between agents. In the end, Smith was out of potentially $86 million in favor of three smaller contracts.

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Unveiling the Conspiracy: Legal Battles, Consequences, and an Era Lost

The fallout was catastrophic for the Timberwolves. The NBA penalized them by stripping five first-round draft picks. This leaves the team unable to attract young talent to complement Garnett.

As a result, Garnett’s prime years were squandered with a roster of underperforming players. The Wolves’ woes continued as they missed out on drafting future stars like Tony Parker and Tony Allen.

While the Wolves’ punishment seemed harsh, insiders revealed that such secret deals were not uncommon in the NBA. Numerous teams had engaged in similar practices, albeit more discreetly.

The saga reached its climax when Garnett, loyal despite the franchise’s mismanagement, was traded to the Boston Celtics. The move marked the end of an era and further plunged the Wolves into a 13-year playoff drought.

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