A month ago, I wrote about Kevin Garnett using an opt-out clause in his contract as a de facto no trade clause. His goal was to discourage the Boston Celtics--the NBA's second worst team last season--from trading for him. His strategy worked, as the Celtics turned to other trade options.But since that time, both the Celtics' situation and Garnett's situation have changed considerably. Namely, the Celtics traded for all-star Ray Allen, who joins Paul Pierce to give them two legitimate 25+ per game scorers (Allen averaged 26.4 points per game last year; Pierce averaged 25.0). In obtaining Allen, the Celtics also dispatched Wally Szczerbiak, whom played with Garnett for seven seasons in Minnesota, during which time the two apparently didn't like each other.
If we are to believe various media reports this morning, the Celtics are on the verge of trading for Garnett and signing him to a contract extension (Garnett is seeking a 5-year extension worth $125 million). The Celtics are apparently set to deal Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian
Telfair, and a 2008 first round draft pick for Garnett, who has warmed to the idea of playing in Boston, particularly since Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale has been reluctant to deal him to a Western Conference team.With a lineup featuring Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, the Celtics seem like the best team in the Eastern Conference, and a legitimate contender for an NBA title. They are certainly an older team (Pierce is 29, Garnett is 31, and Allen is 32), but they now have a 3-year window to go for it all. It's amazing how the fate of a franchise can change so dramatically in just one month.