Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News checks in on the Kevin Garnett-to-New Jersey rumors. Hearing of the Nets? offer of 3 starters, but no stars, for Garnett has piqued the interest of the Dallas Mavericks. They are prepared to jump into the Garnett derby with a better offer for the first-team All-NBA power forward.

The Mavs believe they can top Jersey's offer of Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn. They'd happily move everyone not named Dirk Nowitzki to get the deal done. The problem for the Nets, Mavs and everyone else coveting Garnett is, as much as he hasn't been able to get Minnesota out of the first round, and with all the money he's making, the Timberwolves aren't likely to move him.

The Nets are dreaming of a Jason Kidd / Kevin Garnett tandem, but the truth is that not only is garnett unlikely to come to New Jersey, but Kidd is likely leave new Jersey as well.

According to Lawrence, ?Kidd says so many different things to so many different people, it's hard to gauge how he really feels. Unfortunately for the Nets, he rarely talks to his most trusted allies about staying in Jersey. Just in the last week or so, he was crowing to some of them about the Nets' intentions to try to deal for Garnett. That's a positive sign. But he's also talked about his yearn to return home to play for Golden State, or joining up with Gary Payton in Seattle.

The smart money still has Kidd leaving for San Antonio in July 2003, to join forces with Tim Duncan. You can't argue with that.?

Lawrence adds that if Minnesota ever does decide to move Garnett, If Minnesota ever reaches the conclusion that it's time to trade Garnett, it's a cinch that other teams will call Kevin McHale. Portland has a standing offer of Rasheed Wallace, along with Bonzi Wells or Derek Anderson.

There?s also a school of thought that says the T-Wolves would instead opt to rebuild, which means sending Garnett to a team like Miami, for Alonzo Mourning, whose deal is up next summer, along with a slew of future No. 1 picks. Then they can take all that money ($25 million) off their books, get under the salary cap, and start over.