A numerical study is presented which was conducted to examine how the average transfer of kinetic energy between large and small turbulent scales in the near-wall flow depends on the filter function. In contrast to some previous findings of other authors, the present analysis reveals that these interactions are qualitatively almost independent of the type of filter employed. It is shown that conclusive results for the individual subgrid-stress components (Leonard stresses, cross stresses, and Reynolds stresses) can only be obtained if a Galilean-invariant form of these components is used. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.