This is a little out of date now, but I don't think this information was ever discussed on here. I just got done reading the extended exclusive interview from SLAM with KG on the cover (its like 3-4 months old-I'm a little behind). One of the questions was \"When Glen Taylor told you he was going to move in a different direction and was taking trade offers for you, where did you want to go\"?

KG said he was very very interested in Phoenix. He liked the style of play and the team they had. However, when he heard that Amare' would have to be dealt in order for him to be acquired, he was not interested. He said something like \"no offense to Marion, but I wanted to play with the big guy (Amare)\".

He then said that he had interest in 2 other teams initially: The Lakers & New Jersey. He has a home by LA & thought it would be cool to be a Laker, but then when Kobe was having so many problems with management, he didn't want to go there (\"I don't need a management situation similar to the one I was leaving\"). He also had interest in playing with Jason Kidd, but said that New Jersey was trying to figure out their situation with Vince Carter, so they either didn't have enough to offer, or just didn't try to get in the running.

After that, he said he thought some more, and also warmed up to possibly playing in Golden State (\"BD is my man\" & something about liking the \"style\" out there) or Detroit (\"they got Chauncey & Flip\").

And then Boston traded for Ray Allen, and the rest is history. I just thought it was kind of interesting hearing KG's thought process throughout the whole thing, and the 5 teams he mentioned that he would have been open to being traded to.

As far as I know, the only real suitors that had a shot were Phoenix and Boston. I think by the time Golden State was truly in the mix, Boston had already begun to get things in line.

DeROK wrote:

I agree with Derok. I don't think it really mattered where he *wanted* to go, because even our Front Office wouldn't be that stupid to give him away for a deal less than what we got from Boston. Only places that had a chance were Boston, Phoenix, and the Lakers... imo.

I didn't say that all of those places blew chances to get him or anything like that. I was just simply intrigued to see from KG's eyes what destinations were desirable for him. You guys must have interpreted me wrong or something.

BonK wrote:

Yeah, I did. My bad. Re-reading it makes more sense now.

If we would've sent KG to the Lakers, who do we get? Odom, Bynum, Crittendon, and a pick? I dunno. I kind of like the Boston deal better, and frankly I think it has turned out better than most of us thought it would. I also don't see how Phoenix ever could've gotten KG w/o giving up Stoudemire.

- TR