NBA Trade Rumors 2013: Boston Celtic's Kevin Garnett to the Clippers?

As the Feb. 21 trade deadline approaches, sources indicate that the Celtic's may decide to trade legendary power forward Kevin Garnett. The Los Angeles Clippers have expressed interest in acquiring Garnett and trade talks between the two teams continue.

This season, the Clippers have put together the best team the franchise has ever seen. It could be unwise to shake up the team's chemistry and risk their chances at the championship, or perhaps a star veteran like Garnett could give them the edge they need.

The Clippers are making a serious push to bring Garnett to Los Angeles and have thrown the young and talented point guard Eric Bledsoe into the discussion. Bledsoe scored 23 points with 10 assists and seven rebounds in the Clippers' loss to the Celtics on Sunday. Bledsoe has started for the Clippers since star point guard Chris Paul has been out with a bruised right kneecap and has performed exceptionally well.

Bledsoe would serve as a perfect replacement for Boston's injured Rajon Rondo. The All-Star point guard suffered a season-ending ACL injury in January. Since Rondo's injury, the Celtics have been regularly mentioned in trade talks. With Rondo out and veterans like Garnett and Paul Pierce slowing down, the Celtics need to shake up their roster and plan ahead for the future.

A small hitch in the potential Celtics-Clippers trade is that Garnett has a no-trade clause in his contract with Boston. He can refuse any trade that management offers him. It's unclear at this point whether Garnett would comply and move on or feel betrayed and perhaps stick it to the organization and play out his remaining couple years in Boston.

Garnett considered retirement after last season, but chose to stay with the Celtics, saying "he wasn't going to leave Doc (Rivers) and those guys and play anywhere else," according to Greg Payne of ESPN Boston.

Garnett seems to be entirely committed to Boston, and since it's ultimately up to him, it doesn't look like he's going anywhere. The future is still hazy for the Celtics, but as the deadline approaches, the details will make themselves clear.