Minnesota Timberwolves

Report: Wolves' owner expects KG to return next season

Published Apr. 7, 2016 8:11 p.m. ET

Jovan Buha

Coming off their shocking victory over the Warriors on Tuesday, the Timberwolves are beginning to gain buzz as the NBA's next "it" team.

Karl-Anthony Towns looks like a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate. Andrew Wiggins has All-Star potential, too. Zach LaVine is still somewhat of a wild card, but seems like a quality starter at worst. And while Ricky Rubio still can't shoot, he's still an elite passer and pesky defender. You could do a lot worse at point guard.

A popular comparison for the Wolves has been the Thunder from a half-decade ago (circa 2009). Both had budding stars and the potential to continue to grow through the draft.

The one difference for the Wolves, though, is that they have Kevin Garnett -- a future first-ballot Hall of Famer -- in their locker room, while the Thunder did not.

Despite not playing since Jan. 23, and acting more as an assistant coach and mentor this season, Garnett is expected to return to return to the Wolves next season and help them on their elusive quest to make the postseason, according to team owner Glen Taylor:

Spoke w/ Glen Taylor yesterday. On KG's future: "You'd have to ask him, but from everything he's told me, he wants to be (back)." #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 7, 2016

Garnett is on the books for $8 million next season, which is a hefty price for a backup, even with the cap projected to spike nearly $20 million this offseason. He also has a no-trade clause, though that appears to be irrelevant at this point.

Garnett's influence on Towns, Wiggins, LaVine, Rubio and Gorgui Dieng can't be understated, though. The young core is learning from one of the game's greatest players and fiercest competitors, which can only fast track their development -- especially on the defensive end.

As we've seen with Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade, teams will keep their franchise players around at all costs. Though Garnett and the Wolves parted ways from nearly a decade, Garnett is still the franchise's most iconic player, and will certainly be around long after he retires.

Whether Garnett returns for his 22nd season -- an NBA record -- is his call entirely. He will go out on his terms. That said, it would be fun to see him in the playoffs one last time.

Jovan Buha covers the NBA for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @jovanbuha.