Nets general manager Billy King said Kevin Garnett is “under contract’’ for next season, but stopped well short of guaranteeing Garnett will be back in Brooklyn next season.
At the Nets free-agent camp Wednesday at the team’s New Jersey practice facility, King spoke cautiously about Garnett’s future, declining to say he’s confident Garnett will fulfill the final year of his $12 million pact. Garnett is coming off the worst season of his career, averaging 6.5 points and 6.6 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game.
“He’s under contract,’’ King said. “Until a guy tells you he’s not under contract, you go under the basis he’s under contract and you plan accordingly. If a guy changes course and decides to retire, then you make that decision. You don’t go into thinking he’s retiring and you think $12 million will be [off the books].’’
Is he confident KG will be back?
“I’m just saying he’s under contact,’’ King said. “It’s not like he’s a free agent. Until I hear something differently , you plan accordingly because he is under contract.’’
Garnett’s decision perhaps hinges on whether free agent Paul Pierce re-signs July 1. There’s also a question whether the Nets want the 38-year-old back after his low production.
“Paul Pierce, for example, is a free agent,’’ King said. “You plan he could or couldn’t be back. I know Garnett is under contract. Until something changes, you have to plan that way as you plan your cap because that money is on the books.’’
Garnett has played 19 seasons. After the disappointment of the Nets’ second-round, five-game playoff loss to Miami, King said he thought he knew which way Garnett was “leaning,’’ but wouldn’t say. It seems tough to imagine him forfeiting the $12 million unless the Nets offer him a buyout.
Asked if he thought Garnett enjoyed his year in Brooklyn, King said: “That’s a question I don’t try to … I think he enjoyed it and had a good time. If you want a direct answer it would have to come from him.’’
Garnett blew off the media after the Nets’ elimination loss in Miami and didn’t speak to the media during the team’s breakup day.
“I think he was good,’’ King said of Garnett’s season. “This year, he wasn’t the same Garnett of 12 years ago, whatever. But what he brought to the table was good. … He started out the year he wasn’t at the peak focus he may have wanted to have been, but there was lot of newness for a lot of people. What he gave us and brought to the table and how Jason [Kidd] used him was very good.’’
The Nets don’t have any picks in the June 26 draft, but King wouldn’t rule out trading or buying one — even late in the first round.
“There’s conversation I know,’’ King said. “Generally you don’t know if you’re going to get a pick until draft day because everybody’s looking at guys they want to target — a guy falls out of their range and they want to sell it or trade it. You can [put out the buzz]. We’re always trying to get a pick, working the phones trying to get something.’’
King reported Brook Lopez (foot surgery) will work out with the Nets summer-league team in Orlando. … Regarding Deron Williams’ ankle surgeries, King said the club knew most of the season he would need them. “I think last year the situation was give it time in a boot and see if that would help,’’ King said of last offseason. “This year it was ‘let’s do it right away’. He was more confident to get it done this year. When you do surgery, no matter how minor it may be, it’s major. This time let’s get it done, clean him out so we can start the year fresh.’’