Celtics agree to acquire Garnett for four players, draft pick
July 30, 2007
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports




BOSTON -- Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told the Associated Press on Monday.

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Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. The official also said the Timberwolves would get at least one draft choice.

The teams still had some things to clarify with the players' contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players ticketed for the Timberwolves.

There was a chance that a conference call announcing the trade would be held Monday, the official said.

Garnett, 31, has spent all of his 12 NBA seasons with Minnesota. He would get an extension of his contract, which has one year plus an option year remaining, the official said.

The Celtics had tried to get Garnett late last month, but his agent said he didn't want to go to Boston.

Since then, Boston acquired seven-time All-Star guard Ray Allen from Seattle in a draft day deal. Already with Paul Pierce, the Celtics would become instant contenders in the mediocre Atlantic Division with Garnett, even without promising forward Jefferson.

The Celtics obtained Allen and the 35th pick of the draft for guards Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak, and forward Jeff Green of Georgetown, whom they drafted with the fifth pick.

The Celtics have won just three playoff series during Pierce's nine years with them. They still have an NBA-record 16 championships, but none since 1986.

"They have no excuses, this team out there," Danny Ainge, the executive director of basketball operations, said after Allen was acquired.

Pierce, 29, led the Celtics in scoring last season but played only 47 games because of injury.

Allen, who turns 32 next month, averaged a career-high 26.4 points last season, his 11th, but underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on both ankles that required him to wear protective boots. He is expected to be ready for training camp.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Celtics And Wolves Reach Agreement
July 30, 2007 - 5:18 pm
USA Today -
Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told The Associated Press on Monday.

Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. The official also said the Timberwolves would get at least one draft choice.

The teams "ran into a few things that need clarification" in the players' contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players ticketed for the Timberwolves.

There was a "50-50" chance that a conference call announcing the trade would be held Monday, the official said. [READ]

HELL YES!! WHEN HIS JERSEYS FOR SAL?

heres what im thinking....

oct. 2007 - sox win world series
feb. 2008 - pats win super bowl
june 2008 - celtics win finals

Jefferson, Gomes, Telfair, Green, Ratliff *and* two first round picks? I'm scared of them next year, but they'll be in pretty shitty position in 2-3 years.

And what if Garnett opts out after this season? Ouch, so much for one year rental...

I don't know... I'm not sold. At best this makes the Celtics a first round playoff loser. They really only have 3 guys on the team and then there is a massive drop off after that. Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are not going to carry a team very far by themselves... plus, I'd be amazed if all 3 make it through an entire season injury free.

If the deal goes through, the Celtics would have...

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett (Here comes the dropoff), Rajon Rondo, Brian Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Glen Davis and Leon Powe. Clearly if they make this deal, they have to go get a couple of more bench players, but they don't have to be anyone overly exciting. They can either make some minor deals or go look and see what's left on the market.

I wonder how much cap room they'll have left after this to sign anybody else? I would think Garnett, Pierce, and Allen would eat up almost all of it by themselves!

I do miss the Celtics being good, so I hope they do something. I remember the good old days in the late 80s when the Pistons and Celtics used to go at it like mad... those were good times.