Garnett will play in L.A., but probably with Suns

Accept it: Kevin Garnett is not coming to the Lakers.

Definitely not in the four-team trade that would have involved the Lakers, Minnesota, Indiana and Boston. And, it became apparent Wednesday, not in the possible Lakers-Timberwolves trade that emerged as an alternative when the stars didn’t align for the bigger deal.

The Timberwolves want draft picks and young players and figured they could do better than the Lakers’ offer of Lamar Odom -- and his $27.4 million over the next two seasons -- and the promising but inconsistent Andrew Bynum. If Garnett goes anywhere it’s likely to be Phoenix in a multi-team deal. That could happen as early as today’s draft at the WaMu Theater at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Atlanta, with the third and 11th picks to trade, wants Amare Stoudemire and could be part of a three-way trade with Minnesota and Phoenix that sends Garnett to the Suns. Another rumored variation involves Boston, Minnesota and Phoenix and would move Garnett to Phoenix, Shawn Marion to Boston and Al Jefferson from Boston to Minnesota.

Garnett supposedly favors the Suns -- and the opportunity to have All-Star teammate and pal Steve Nash feed him the ball -- over a chance to play for the Lakers. Which only proves that he’s smart, given the Lakers’ current dysfunctional state.

It goes back to Kobe Bryant, who hasn’t publicly changed his stance since he posted on his website May 28 that “the Lakers and me just have two different visions for the future” and that he sees “a new road ahead.” Nor has he contradicted a report floated by ESPN’s Ric Bucher that he would sit out next season if the Lakers don’t trade him to a team that’s in a better position to win a championship.

The Lakers have no plan to trade Bryant anywhere because it’s impossible to get equal value in return for a player of his caliber. Any team able to make a reasonable offer would be wiped out, and if it wouldn’t be a contender anymore, Bryant wouldn’t want to go there, anyway.

ESPN’s Jim Gray reported Wednesday that Lakers owner Jerry Buss responded with a cryptic “no comment” when Gray asked during a phone interview whether Buss was willing to trade Bryant. Gray presumably had the right number this time, unlike the chat he reported having in December with Allen Iverson in which Iverson expressed a wish to be traded to Minnesota. It turned out not to be Iverson at the other end. Oops.

Gray also reported that Buss described his meeting with Bryant in Spain 10 days ago as “very cordial,” but declined to say if he was disappointed that Bryant asked to be traded. Buss also said the Lakers “are trying” to make a trade and “will make a deal if it improves the team ... but not just to make a deal, but if it makes us better.”

One way to accomplish that would be by sending Bynum -- whom Bryant allegedly trashed in the infamous parking-lot video made by the money-grubbing “Kobe Video Guys” -- and Odom to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal.

O’Neal was the Lakers’ initial trade target before they thought they might get Garnett. If O’Neal has become a consolation prize, he’s a good one. The Lakers could then use their mid-level exception of about $5 million for next season to sign a point guard who would be an upgrade over Smush Parker.

The Lakers have been reluctant to give up Bynum, who last season alternately intrigued and infuriated Coach Phil Jackson and everyone else. But they shouldn’t let Bynum’s potential stop them from making that deal.

Like the Lakers, Bynum had a strong start. They were 26-13 after their 100-96 victory at San Antonio on Jan. 17; Bynum, who averaged 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in November and 6.1 and 4.1 in December, peaked at 10.7 points and nine rebounds in January.

After that, it was all downhill for them and him. Bynum averaged 8.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in February, 5.4 and 4.7 in March and 7.5 and 3.9 in April, with his playing time dipping to 17.7 minutes a game over the last 10 games. In the Lakers’ five-game playoff loss to Phoenix, he averaged only 11 minutes, four points and 4.6 rebounds.

Jackson frequently criticized Bynum’s fitness and work ethic and with good cause, since Bynum was too winded too often for a 19-year-old. Since the season ended, Bynum has been working out regularly at the Lakers’ El Segundo practice facility, a sign he wants to improve his conditioning. But Bryant, who will be 29 in August and has a lot of miles on his legs, may be past his prime when or if Bynum becomes an impact player.

It wouldn’t be a shock, though, if the Lakers don’t make a trade today.

Their pick, at No. 19, isn’t worth a lot in a draft that’s deep through the first 12 but then dramatically drops in quality. Historically, the Lakers haven’t been active on draft day: they last made a draft-day deal in 1998, when they sent Nick Van Exel to Denver for Tony Battie and the rights to Tyronn Lue.

The kicker to this is that if the last few weeks have been chaotic, wait until this time next year. That’s when Jackson and General Manager Mitch Kupchak will be nearing the end of their contracts and Bryant will be a year away from being able to invoke his opt-out clause, which would switch the hammer from the Lakers’ hands to his.

That could make the parking-lot video a fond memory.

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Helene Elliott can be reached at helene.elliott@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Elliott, go to latimes.com/elliott.