Paul Pierce would help, and so would Ray Allen. It would be nice to have Al Harrington or Peja Stojakovic. One can dream about Chris Bosh or LeBron James, but they're probably not going anywhere.
The guy everyone wants is Kevin Garnett. The question is where he will be next season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Garnett mostly ignore the incessant prattling about Garnett leaving the long misguided, underachieving franchise, though there continue to be rumors and reports - TNT added another last week - that the club wouldn't stand in Garnett's way if he wanted to be traded.
"Sounds to me like they wouldn't mind moving him but don't want the blame," said one team executive who would like to be in on what could be the best personnel sweepstakes since Shaquille O'Neal went to the Miami Heat.
So what makes sense? Here's a look at the 10 most likely deals for Garnett this summer:
1. Los Angeles Clippers: Garnett lives in Malibu and the Clippers could put together a much better package than the Lakers. It would help them retain Sam Cassell, whom Garnett worked well with in Minnesota and can take that last shot. Watching Garnett being triple-teamed now is sad. Plus, the Clippers have what Garnett and Cassell didn't have, a center in Chris Kamen. How about Elton Brand, Corey Maggette as he returns from surgery and Shaun Livingston for perhaps Garnett and Mark Madsen, the latter to dance at the Clippers' championship rally.
2. Golden State Warriors: Figure this will be the summer they try to make the big splash, and they have the assets. They could put together something appealing with their first-round pick, Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy and perhaps throw in one of their European kids, like Andris Biedrins or Zarko Cabarkapa.
3. Indiana Pacers: They've got a big piece in Jermaine O'Neal, whom they probably would deal for someone like Garnett. Perhaps with one of their guards, like Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Johnson or Sarunas Jasikevicius and a first-round pick, it would be enough for the Timberwolves to come away looking whole and with some assets.
4. New York Knicks: Well, they do have a lot of players. And they have two first-round draft picks this season, though in the bottom half, probably from Denver and San Antonio. Maybe the two first-rounders, Channing Frye, Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford and David Lee. Minnesota would have to think about it for Garnett and an extra like Madsen, and if they have bad contracts the Knicks surely would take them.
