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TechnographGarnett joins Pierce, Allen with new, improved Celtics
By Howard Ulman, The Associated Press
Posted: 8/2/07 Section: Sports
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"'86, huh?" the 10-time NBA All-Star said.
"21 years ago," a reporter told him.
To which Garnett quickly replied: "21s a good number."
A good number to end the drought on, and any team needs some luck - whether it's avoiding injuries or getting a key foul call - to win a title, but Boston needs a lot less of it now.
With the 6-foot-11 Garnett joining forward Paul Pierce and guard Ray Allen as the team's new Big Three, the Celtics went from the team with the second worst record in the NBA to instant contenders in the mediocre Eastern Conference.
"I thought this is probably my best opportunity to win a ring," Garnett said after being obtained Tuesday from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 7-for-1 deal - the most players traded for one player in NBA history. "It was a no-brainer."
Minnesota, which missed the playoffs the last three seasons, adopted the Celtics now abandoned policy of rebuilding with youth. Of the five players they received, four - forwards Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Gerald Green and guard Sebastian Telfair - are 24 or younger. The fifth is 34-year-old center Theo Ratliff.
"We gave up a lot," Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "Too much? Time will tell."
The Celtics also gave up their first-round draft pick in 2009, unless it is among the top three, and returned Minnesota's conditional first-round draft pick obtained in January 2006 when they sent Ricky Davis to the Timberwolves for Wally Szczerbiak. Minnesota also received cash considerations.
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