10-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett is officially a Boston Celtic. Garnett was introduced at an evening press conference at TD BankNorth Garden to the Boston media. Present along with Garnett were Celtics captain Paul Pierce, the recently acquired Ray Allen, director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, head coach Glen “Doc” Rivers and Celtics ownership.
Garnett was acquired for five players, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliffe plus 2 first round draft picks. It was the largest trade for any one player in NBA history.
The three players were almost giddy in their excitement at the prospect of getting to play together. Garnett and Pierce played in a High School All-Star game in the mid 90’s and Allen and Garnett are from the same general area in South Carolina and played against each other regularly.
Next up for Danny Ainge is to add some other players to bring the roster up to the league minimum of twelve players. Expect him to look for some more veteran players as free agents to fill in the gaps. His immediate need is for a second point guard to play in place of Rajon Rondo.
It is an exciting time for Celtics fans. The team is relevant once again. With this deal the Celtics are considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference along with Cleveland and Detroit. The last time the Celtics were in the Eastern Conference Finals was in 2002 when they lost to New Jersey in six games.
The once proud franchise has won the most titles in NBA history, owning 16 NBA championships having won 11 in thirteen years between 1957 and 1969. That streak also includes 8-in-a-row from 1959-66. They last won a NBA Championship in 1986 when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale (who traded Garnett to Boston), Robert Parish and Ainge all wore Celtic green.
