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BOSTON, Massachusetts: Kevin Garnett was traded from
the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics on Monday, the
Philadelphia Inquirer reported, citing an undisclosed Celtics
source.
The deal brings together all-star
forward Garnett with long-time Celtics playmaker Paul Pierce and
veteran guard Ray Allen to make Boston a force to contend with in
the National Basketball Association after years of struggles.
None of the three have ever been
able to claim an NBA championship despite years of success on the
court. And with all in their 30s, the chances to pull off a title
run might hinge upon all of them coming together as a team.
Garnett was traded for forwards
Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Gerald Green, center Theo Ratliff,
guard Sebastian Telfair as well as two future first-round NBA Draft
picks, according to the report.
The Celtics were 24-58 last
season, the NBA’s second-worst record, and have not won a playoff
series since 2003.
Garnett has the right to opt out
of his 22 million-dollar contract after next season and solving that
issue was said to be among the things that made the trade difficult
to achieve.
But Garnett is expected to
receive a multi-year extension and reportedly has agreed to waive a
clause that would hurt the Celtics’ under NBA salary cap rules.
The Celtics and Timber-wolves had
discussed the deal before last month’s NBA Draft. Top executives
Danny Ainge of the Celtics and Kevin McHale of the Timberwolves are
friends from their playing days in Boston.
Garnett, the league Most Valuable
Player in 2004, spent his entire 12-year career with Minnesota. He
has career averages of 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds in 927 games.
Allen has a 21.5-point career
scoring average. Pierce’s is 23.6 points a game.
Garnett, 31, averaged 22.4 points
and 12.8 rebounds last season.
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