Doc Rivers: Garnett could return to Timberwolves as teacher

At 40, Kevin Garnett can still be useful to the Minnesota Timberwolves - at least according to his former coach.

As of Thursday, the power forward still hasn't informed the team whether he'll play this season, per NBA.com's Steve Aschburner, but Doc Rivers - who coached Garnett in Boston - believes the big man could return in a mentorship role.

"I think Kevin - and I know it, because I talk to him - loves the young guys on his team," Rivers told Chris Forsberg of ESPN. "He loves how they work. He thinks they have an old-school mentality. So I think he's really gotten into Kevin, the teacher.

"And I honestly never saw that coming, either. Yet he was a phenomenal teacher with (the Celtics); I just didn't think he would have the patience to do it. And I think Kevin loves teaching these young guys."

For what it's worth, Rivers said the other two members of the 2008 championship-winning Big Three in Boston - Paul Pierce and Ray Allen - can still play, as well.

Related: Rivers says Allen 'in top-5 shape in the NBA'

KG has been working out this offseason, while mulling his playing future. He has a year and $8 million remaining on his current deal, with the team that first drafted him 21 years ago.

He recorded 3.2 points, 3.9 boards, and 1.6 assists in 14.6 minutes over 38 games - all career lows - last season.