ESPN is reporting this evening that Kevin Garnett has pulled the plug on a proposed 4 or 5 player swap with the Celtics. While these are undoubtedly traumatic times for T-Wolves fans, full credit to ‘Lil Dice for having the presence of mind to reveal photographic evidence that Juwan Howard is still alive.

While the Nets deny any intention of regurgitating their trade talks with the Lakers for Kobe Bryant, Newsday’s Alan Hahn is nearly delirious over the possibility, however remote of Kobe wearing a Knicks uni.

What would he wear with the Knicks? As my man Berger asked me this morning, would they rip Bill Bradley’s No. 24 right off the Garden ceiling? Would he go back to No. 8, a digit less heralded, but still worn by the capable likes of Latrell Sprewell, Walt Bellamy and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton?

The Tacoma News’ Frank Hughes chimes in with the sort of grim tidings that should do wonders for Sonics season ticket sales this summer, no matter who they pick at no. 2 overall.

I have always sort of thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Sonics would re-sign Rashard Lewis, no questions asked. After all, he is entering the prime of his career, he has improved in every season he has played and he is the team™s only low-post scorer. I figured the team would give him a fair number that outdistances any other suitors and keep him as part of the organization for the remainder of his career, figuring out a way for he and Kevin Durant to play together.

But I have recently had conversations with folks who have at least made me consider alternate options. One person I spoke with felt strongly that Clay Bennett was going to have Sam Presti blow this entire thing up and rebuild it around Durant. It is, essentially, what the Spurs did with Tim Duncan “ though to be fair they had David Robinson around when Duncan was drafted. In any case, this person “ a league source, not Johnny Neptune down in the International District “ thought Presti was going to trade Ray because Ray does not play any defense, let Rashard go so he doesn™t eat up any salary cap space and start to put pieces around Durant that fit. Offend the fan base in Seattle, which has seen enough rebuilding with young guys? Who cares? this person said. Clay is intent on taking the team to OKC anyway, and if that happens the fan base there will be so happy just to have its own team that it will be willing to be patient. The bottom line is, this person felt, Clay does not want to spend money on a product that he clearly is not willing to promote in a city that he clearly no longer likes, so not only cut ties with Wally Walker, Rick Sund, Bob Hill, Dave Pendergraft and Steve Rosenberry, but the players who were brought in by those men as well.