Brooklyn Nets Roster & Trade Rumors: Kevin Garnett, Starting 5 with Brook Lopez

Fans of Kevin Garnett may be thrilled to know that the veteran athlete may be starting for the Brooklyn Nets.

According to CBS Sports, coach Lionel Hollins shared to reporters at a celebrity Dodge Barrage event by Deron Williams on September 15, that KG will take on the role of power forward as part of the first five.

Hollins said, "There is nobody in the gym that I would put in his place. He's earned the right to have that opportunity to be the starter from day one. If somebody else would knock him out, it's got to be like a heavyweight fight. I don't really see that happening."

In a report by ESPN.com, Hollins will allow Garnett to play for over 15 minutes each night on two conditions.

"If he's healthy, and producing, he's going to play. How many minutes? I don't know. But he's not going to play 15 or 16 minutes. I can guarantee you that. If he is playing and starting, he is going to be out there," Hollins said.

He added in an article by NY Daily News, "He deserves Hall of Fame respect. Obviously going forward it's about being healthy, it's about producing. But in my heart I believe K.G. is going to produce and have the best year that he's ever had as a Net, which has only been two years." He continued, "He looks good. He looks in great shape, shooting the ball extremely well."

Recently, Garnett has been training with his Nets teammates in New Jersey. He will be expected to play in tandem with Brook Lopez who suffered a foot injury at the end of the last season, but is set to come back as starting center. In the past season, Garnett played 54 games and averaged only 6.5 points and 6.6 rebounds while playing 20.5 minutes per game. He missed 19 games due to a back injury. Hollins said he sat down with the 6'11 veteran where Garnett decided to postpone retirement for another year and play his 20th NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets. He will be playing in the NBA for one last season under a contract valued at $12 million.

Coach Hollins added that fans can expect greater things from Garnett. "I didn't even ask him (how close he was to retiring). It doesn't really matter. You're pregnant or you're not pregnant. He looks good... I would assume that if he decided to come back and if in fact it is his last year, he would want to make it his best."