Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor doesn't want to start next season without having Kevin Garnett signed to a contract extension. But if he doesn't, Taylor said, that doesn't mean he'll trade his star player.

"The only way we would probably trade him is if Kevin said that he really thought that was the best thing for him, or something like that,'' Taylor said. "It would have to be built on something I couldn't even think of right now. We don't want to, and I don't think he would want to, but that would be the scenario, I suppose.

"I don't think I would necessarily accept that just because he said that. But that's a possibility.''

Garnett has one season left on his record-setting six-year, $126 million deal and is eligible for an extension beginning at $29.4 million ? although the sides last summer were negotiating a pay cut. If Garnett does not sign an extension, he would become an unrestricted free agent after next season and eligible to sign with any team.