The Los Angeles Clippers have refuted previous rumors and have stated that they have no plans to pursue Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett, according to NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Also, the Clippers' front office has not had any conversations with Boston's front office about the rumored deal in which L.A. would use back-up point guard Eric Bledsoe and small forward Caron Butler as centerpieces to acquire Garnett.
Bledsoe is the starting point guard while Chris Paul remains out with a bruised right kneecap that has kept him out of 10 of the last 12 games and will sideline him again Monday night against the Washington Wizards.
Bledsoe has become a key role player for the Clippers, who already struggle when Bledsoe goes to the bench for a rest. Trading him would leave them without a backup point guard to Paul.
Meanwhile, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has maintained that the team is in wait-and-see mode, and if it continues to win and show ability to be competitive with the top-tier teams in the league, he would prefer to stick out the remainder the season with the current core he has intact.
Asked about any potential roster moves before Sunday's game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, "We really haven't talked about [moves]. Honestly. We obviously can because we need a body. But we really haven't talked about it much at all. Nothing really. What I think Danny [Ainge] is doing is probably doing all the work right now and I'm sure this week maybe, or who knows in two weeks, he'll come with a long list of scenarios."
Garnett, 36, has a no-trade clause and two years left on his contract.
The trade deadline is Feb. 21.
