The Sonics referenced Ray Allen's age and his recent ankle injuries to explain why they dealt him to the Boston Celtics for guard Delonte West, forward Wally Szczerbiak and the No. 5 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, which they used to select Georgetown forward Jeff Green.

They failed to mention that the seven-time All-Star guard is due $52 million over the next three years, but his salary is believed to have played a large part in their decision-making, according to the Seattle Times.

Whatever the reason, Allen doesn't hold a grudge.

"There's no hard feelings, not at all," he said. "Like anything else, this just closes a chapter in my career here. I just have to move forward and worry about what I need to do. It's over with here. It doesn't surprise me.

"Regardless of the time I spent with [owner] Clay Bennett or what I may have done for this team, there's no loyalties in this business. With [general manager] Sam Presti coming in from San Antonio, he's trying to make his mark, and I'm pretty sure that if Rick Sund were at the helm, there would have been a different decision."

Kevin Garnett stayed put last night. Starting Sunday, look for the offers to resurface for the Timberwolves All-Star. The question has to be asked: Will the Celtics be back in the chase?

One of the most important non-components of last night's deal securing Ray Allen was who was not involved. That would be Theo Ratliff, whose attractive, expiring contract is still on the Boston books. That was good enough to get Garnett a week ago, along with, ahem, Al Jefferson and assorted flotsam and jetsam. Would the Celtics do the same deal? Would the Timberwolves?

For those of you dreaming of an Allen-Garnett-Paul Pierce triumvirate, there are a few entanglements, starting with the reason the deal was killed in the first place: Garnett's desire not to play in Boston. He was unambiguous about not only not playing in Boston, but that his preferred destination be Phoenix. (Somehow, we think he wouldn't object to the Lakers.)

The Seattle SuperSonics stayed very busy in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by trading All-Star Ray Allen and the 35th pick in this year?s draft to the Boston Celtics for forward Wally Szczerbiak, guard Delonte West and the No. 5 pick in the draft. With the fifth pick, the Celtics selected forward Jeff Green who was sent to Seattle.

The Sonics picked forward Glen Davis out of LSU at the No. 35 pick, who was sent to Boston. The Sonics will also receive either Boston?s 2nd round pick, or Portland?s 2nd round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, whichever is better. Boston acquired the Portland pick through a previous trade.

?Jeff Green is a player that doesn't need the ball to be effective,? Sonics General Manager Sam Presti said. ?He's a tremendous facilitator and passer. Those that have seen him play in venues other than the Georgetown system have a better understanding of what it is this guy brings to the table.?

In three years at Georgetown University, Green averaged 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He was named to the Associated Press All-American Third Team in 2006-07 and as a junior, he helped lead the Hoyas to its first Final Four appearances since 1985. He ranks 17th in scoring, 16th in rebounding and 12th in assists on Georgetown?s all-time lists.

Szczerbiak was originally drafted as the No. 6 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Draft. In his seven years in the NBA, the 6-7 forward from Miami (Ohio) University is averaging 15.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He is also shooting .493 (2,996-6,073) from the field. He was traded to the Celtics by Minnesota in January 2006.

West was drafted by Boston in 2004 with the 24th pick in the NBA Draft. In his three years with the Celtics, the 6-4 guard from St. Joseph?s is averaging 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

The Sonics? 31st pick (Carl Landry of Purdue) was traded to Houston for a future second round pick and cash considerations.
                                     
?What an exciting night for this organization,? Presti said. ?We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring in two caliber players to Seattle like Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Obviously, making a deal that involves a player like Ray Allen is a really, really difficult decision for any organization. However, where we want to go, we felt that this was the best decision for the organization at this time.?

Allen just completed his fifth season with the Sonics. The 11-year NBA veteran is a seven-time All-Star and holds career averages of 21.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

?I want to personally compliment Ray Allen; Ray Allen the person and Ray Allen the outstanding, professional player,? said Sonics Chairman Clay Bennett. ?We appreciate the career of Ray Allen in this market. And we wish him the very best.?

The Sonics and Celtics have agreed to a trade which will see Ray Allen join Paul Pierce in Boston, while the fifth pick, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak will be headed to Seattle. The Sonics will take Jeff Green with pick 5, if available.

Draft Analyst Andy Katz said moments ago that the Celtics aren't likely to make a trade with Seattle involving guard Ray Allen.

It's becoming more and more obvious that Boston is going to make the fifth pick themselves. While Yi Jianlian is certainly an option, Ainge seems excited about the possibility of grabbing one of the Gator players, whether it be Horford or Brewer.

Two league sources said the Sonics are calling around the league to gauge interest in guard Ray Allen.

KJR-AM radio reported that the Sonics offered Allen to the Boston Celtics for the fifth pick and Theo Ratliff.

The Boston Celtics expect to keep the fifth pick in the NBA draft despite speculation about trades for veterans Kevin Garnett and Shawn Marion, the man who will make the choice said Wednesday.

"I think it's unlikely," the pick will be traded, Danny Ainge said. "I've felt that way from the beginning, that these trades are hard to come by."

He appeared unconcerned with reports that veteran Paul Pierce might ask to be traded if the Celtics don't obtain a veteran who can help sooner than a rookie. He said Pierce has not demanded a trade and that the two spoke Tuesday.

"It was a great conversation and Paul was very enthusiastic," Ainge said.

With the Los Angeles Lakers' attempts to construct a multi-team deal or a direct trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves collapsing, ESPN's Jim Gray reports that talk of a potential three-team trade that would involve Minnesota, Boston and Phoenix has been rekindled, in which the primary cost to the Suns would be All-Star forward Shawn Marion moving to the Celtics.

Yet an even bigger trade concept, ESPN.com has learned, was hatched Tuesday by the Wolves, in which Phoenix would likely be asked to trade away the player it has been trying not to trade, All-NBA center Amare Stoudemire, who would go to the Atlanta Hawks.

Minnesota, sources say, has been adamant that any trade with Boston would include Al Jefferson. The Celtics, in turn, are willing to part with Jefferson only if they're the team that gets Garnett. It remains to be seen if either side softens its stance in the final hours before the draft.

In the newer trade scenario, sources say, Minnesota is looking to acquire Atlanta's No. 3 and No. 11 picks in the draft along with several cap-friendly contracts from the Hawks and Suns. To participate, Atlanta wants Stoudemire from Phoenix.

Such a trade would hold significantly greater appeal to Minnesota than any Celtics' offer that didn't include Al Jefferson. The Hawks, meanwhile, would be able to reunite Stoudemire with ex-Suns teammate Joe Johnson and immediately field a promising big-and-small core to build around and make Atlanta competitive, given the current state of the Eastern Conference.

The Suns, though, are understandably reluctant to part with Stoudemire after he made the All-NBA first team in what appears to be the most successful comeback from microfracture knee surgery that the NBA has ever witnessed.

ESPN's Jim Gray reported on Tuesday night that a league source said that the latest trade scenario has Kevin Garnett landing in Phoenix with the Suns.

Three teams are involved in these discussions, with the Suns getting Garnett, the Celtics picking up Phoenix forward Shawn Marion and the Wolves acquiring the fifth pick in Thursday's draft and players from Boston.

This development comes after ESPN's Ric Bucher reported earlier on Tuesday that talks between the Lakers and Wolves concerning Garnett had broken down. The Lakers had reportedly offered a package containing at least forward Lamar Odom and center Andrew Bynum.

The current trade is basically contingent on whether Marion would agree to a contract extension with the Celtics, Gray reported. Marion can opt out of his contract after the 2007-08 season. The Suns have spoken to Marion about the deal.

Jim Gray reported Tuesday night that a new trade is brewing which would make Kevin Garnett a member of the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns, Timberwolves and Celtics are discussing a trade that would see the Suns get Garnett, the Celtics land Shawn Marion, and the Wolves acquire Boston's fifth pick as well as a number of unnamed players.

Earlier in the day, Ric Bucher reported that the Lakers' talks with the Wolves about Garnett had fallen apart.

The current blockbuster depends on whether Marion would agree to a contract extension with the Celtics.  Marion can opt out of his contract after next season.  According to Gray, the Suns have already spoken to Marion about the potential trade.