It seems that Marc Stein has decided that it is fearless prediction time.  In his most recent article for ESPN.com he writes: No matter how much the Minnesota Timberwolves' moves have pleased Kevin Garnett, I fearlessly predict that there will be no KG contract extension between now and next July.

Apologies to all my friends in Minny, but I'm fearlessly predicting that Garnett will opt for free agency in July, even if you could guarantee right now that the Wolves finally reach the hallowed hardwood of Round 2 in the playoffs.

That doesn't necessarily mean he's going to leave Minny. That doesn't change the fact that Garnett has been as proud of playing for "Sota," as he calls the place, as anyone could reasonably expect, given the Wolves' 0-for-7 history in the first round and the thin teams he has been repeatedly asked to carry.

It simply figures that Garnett, as we just saw with Jason Kidd, will want to exercise his right to look around and be wooed and explore how another team or two operates. Kidd talked seriously with San Antonio and Dallas, and Tim Duncan had the same inclination in the summer of 2000, flirting with a move to Orlando the first time he was a free agent.