Big Ticket Heads To Boston In 7 For 1 Trade

The Boston Celtics for the first time since the end of the 1991-1992 season, will have a legitimate “Big Three” as they acquired ten time NBA All-Star forward Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in a seven for one swap. Minnesota in exchange for Garnett, receive Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a first round NBA Draft pick in 2009 (top three protected) and the return of their conditional first round draft choice that Boston acquired in 2006 in the deal that sent Ricky Davis to Minnesota. Garnett, who was the NBA MVP in the 2004 season, is one of only five players in NBA history to get at least 19,000 points, 10,000 boards and 4,000 assists. The other four members of this exclusive fraternity; Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone. The “Big Ticket” also led the NBA in boards for the fourth consecutive campaign, joining Moses Malone, Dennis Rodman, and Chamberlain as the only players in the league’s history to accomplish that. The seven for one deal is the biggest in league history, topping the previous high of six for one when the Portland Trail Blazers acquired forward Scottie Pippen from the Chicago Bulls. Garnett said he is excited to play for a team with the history of the Celtics, and is looking forward to playing with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Boston who won 16 NBA Championships in the league’s first 39 years have not been in the NBA Finals since 1987 when they lost to the Lakers. The original “Big Three” for the Celtics, disbanded after Larry Bird retired due to back problems in 1992.