The Kevin Garnett era has officially come to an end in Minnesota. On Monday night, the Timberwolves agreed to trade the 31-year old Garnett to the Boston Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and two future first-round draft picks. The deal was finalized on Tuesday afternoon.
Garnett spent 12 years in Minnesota, the longest-tenured player with one team in the NBA. He averaged 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season. Garnett led the Timberwolves to eight playoff appearances and helped them reach the Western Conference Finals in the 2003-04 campaign, the same year he won the MVP award. That year, Garnett averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game.
Boston has now made two big splashes this off-season, first acquiring Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics on draft day for the #5 pick overall, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak and then making the trade for Garnett. Both Allen and Garnett will team up with Paul Pierce in hopes of bringing at least one more championship to the storied franchise that is the Celtics.
For Minnesota, they get four young players in return and one expiring contract in Ratliff. The 22-year old Jefferson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game last year, while Green put up 10.4 points per contest. The versatile Gomes tallied 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Telfair could not stay out of trouble in Boston and was simply a throw-in in this blockbuster trade.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
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