Report: Garnett, Timberwolves advancing towards buyout

What recently looked like an inevitable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves has since grown into the end of his second tenure with the franchise.

After it was reported that Kevin Garnett was in negotiations with owner Glen Taylor to come back for the 2016-17 season, the 40-year-old power forward is now in advanced discussions with the Timberwolves on a buyout, league sources told ESPN's Marc Stein.

It remains to be seen if the 15-time All-Star will be calling it a career after a legendary 21-year run, although the belief in Minneapolis is that Garnett will in fact retire, sources told ESPN.

It was on Feb. 19 of last year when The Big Ticket agreed to waive his no-trade clause with the Brooklyn Nets in order to be moved to Minnesota, where he spent the first 12 years of his career after going fifth overall in the 1995 draft.

Part of his reason for wanting to be a part of the organization again was that he reportedly had plans to join Flip Saunders in purchasing the team from Taylor. Unfortunately, Saunders died prior to the start of the season after losing his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Garnett averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes over 38 games during the 2015-16 campaign. He currently ranks 20th in NBA history in total points (26,071), ninth in rebounds (14,662), and 17th in rejections (2,037).