Hall of Famer warns Timberwolves stars not to repeat his mistake

On "Ticket and the Truth," Garnett expressed confidence in the future of his old team, with All-Stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.

"They got something there, dawg, that they haven't had there in a long time," Garnett told Paul Pierce. "They've got a bona fide superstar who want the last shot, can hit the last shot and can put it on your f--- head."

But Garnett also remembers when he was in Minnesota and they had two young stars: Himself and Stephon Marbury. They made the playoffs in Garnett's second and third seasons, before Marbury demanded a trade and was sent to the Nets. Garnett was good enough that the Wolves still made the playoffs, but they wouldn't advance past the first round until they added Sam Cassell in the 2003-04 season, ironically also part of the 1999 Marbury deal.

This year for Minnesota, Edwards became the team's primary scorer, in part because Towns played only 29 games due to injury. Edwards continued his ascent to stardom during the FIBA World Cup, leading Team USA with 18.9 points per game.

Garnett thinks Edwards is too good to be Towns' sidekick.

"He has too big of a personality to be Robin," Garnett said to Pierce. But he didn't think that meant Towns necessarily had to step back. "It ain't about stepping back. It's about going forward together."

Towns never quite went forward with another Minnesota No. 1 pick, Andrew Wiggins, and trading Wiggins for D'Angelo Russell didn't work either. Edwards is better than both, and with Towns healthy again, the Timberwolves could be dangerous this season. If their stars are on the same page. 

"That is why me and Steph didn't work," Garnett admitted. "You've got to have a yin and a yang...Steph came off like he wanted something of his own, and that wasn't Minnesota."

While it's only natural to want something of one's own, both Timberwolves might want to value what they already have. Together.