Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland and the Lakers all made last-ditch efforts to acquire Kevin Garnett before losing out to Boston.

The Knicks were told last month that they didn?t have the assets to land Garnett, which has to be a bitter pill for Isiah Thomas to swallow.

The agent for Troy Hudson said Tuesday that the Timberwolves have agreed to buy out Hudson's contract, making him a free agent.

Bill Neff said he has reached a verbal agreement with Wolves owner Glen Taylor to sever ties. The Wolves will pay Hudson just under $6 million this year and just over $6.3 million next season, which is about 80 percent of what Hudson was owed.

With Kevin Garnett now in Boston, the Mavericks and Suns are expected to ramp up efforts to sign P.J. Brown.

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired 10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota?s conditional first round draft pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade. Minnesota also receives cash considerations in the deal.

?Kevin Garnett is a great player in our league, with a fierce and competitive spirit, who brings offensive scoring prowess and a defensive presence to our team,? Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said. ?The players we?re trading to Minnesota have bright futures in the NBA and we wish them well.?

The 12-year pro is one of just five players in NBA history to amass at least 19,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists joining Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley.  The 6?11? 253lb forward led the NBA in rebounding for the fourth consecutive season this past year and is just the fourth player in NBA history to do so.  He joins Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Dennis Rodman as the only players to accomplish that feat. Garnett has been named to the All-NBA First Team three times (2000, 2003, 2004), the All-NBA Second Team three times (2001, 2002, 2005) and the All-NBA Third Team twice (1999, 2007).  Garnett has also been named to the All-NBA Defensive First and Second Teams eight times.  His NBA efficiency score of 29.2 was the highest rated of all NBA players in the 2006-2007 season.

?While it?s difficult to part ways with the young players we?ve worked hard to develop, Kevin has been the consummate professional player in the NBA and a player who I have marveled at over the years,? Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers said.  ?Kevin leaves everything he has out on the floor every game.  He has drive, passion and a hunger to win that is unmatched across the league.?

?I am excited to become a Celtic,? Garnett said.  ?It?s wonderful to have the opportunity to play with players the quality of Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen).  The Celtics have had a proud tradition and now I hope that we can add to the legacy.?

"As owners we are delighted to have a core of three All Star talents to anchor our team,? co-owner Wyc Grousbeck remarked. "Speaking for my partners, while we will miss the valuable players we have traded, we have assembled a group of veteran players who demonstrate Celtic Pride on the court and in the community and who will work hard to deliver a championship contender to the fans of New England.?

With Kevin Garnett heading to Boston, his days of wearing number 21 are over.

The Celtics retired 21 back in 1966 to honor Hall of Famer Bill Sharman.

Jeff Twiss of the Celtics has informed RealGM that it appears  Garnett will wear number 5.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will be attending Tuesday's press conference, along with Garnett, Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers.

According to Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss, the 10-time NBA All-Star will likely be introduced at a news conference at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

According to multiple sources close to situation, Minnesota will send Garnett to Boston for five players and a pair of first-round draft picks. Al Jefferson is the centerpiece of the deal for Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, who will also get Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and a pair of 2009 first-round picks.

The Celtics' draft pick will be top-three protected and the other pick will be the one Minnesota originally dealt to Boston in the trade that sent Ricky Davis to the T'Wolves for Wally Szczerbiak.

According to sources, Garnett will also sign a three-year extension with the Celtics. He has two years left on his current deal.

Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Sixers unrestricted free agent forward Alan Henderson, said the lines of communication remained open between the parties. "We're still talking, but there is nothing further to report," Bartelstein said.

A veteran of 12 NBA seasons, Henderson appeared in 38 games during two stints last season for the Sixers. He is valued as an outstanding presence in the locker room and a mentor for the many young players.

James Singleton is in serious discussions with multiple top European clubs, according to a source that spoke with RealGM.

Talks are ongoing with several NBA clubs, but Singleton is interested in turning to Europe due to the slow pace of the discussions.

Phoenix, Golden State, Utah and Dallas are four teams that have shown interest in Singleton.  At least three other teams have recently been in on discussions.

Singleton is familiar with Europe, as he played for Olimpia Milano before joining the Clippers in 2005.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, who nearly completed a blockbuster Kevin Garnett trade before the June draft, resurrected those talks in recent days and have advanced to the verge of a megadeal that is likely to be completed later Tuesday, according to NBA front-office sources.

A Celtics official went so far as to confirm to The Boston Globe's Jackie MacMullan (also an ESPN contributor) that a deal was "in place" as of late afternoon Monday to bring an end to Garnett's 12-year association with the Wolves.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com Tuesday that the final details have been worked out and the trade soon will be forwarded to the league office for an afternoon trade call to approve the deal.

Multiple sources said the deal includes two assets Wolves vice president Kevin McHale has coveted: Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract.

It is believed the deal also calls for the Celtics to ship youngsters Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Ryan Gomes to Minnesota, along with a future first-round draft pick and the return of a first-rounder the Wolves surrendered in the Wally Szczerbiak-Ricky Davis trade in January 2006.

The clincher, though, is Garnett's apparent willingness to back off his well-chronicled refusal to play in Boston. Garnett's unwillingness to make a long-term commitment to the Celtics abruptly took this deal off the table in June, but McHale and his Boston counterpart, ex-teammate Danny Ainge, managed to resuscitate the trade and quickly move it to the brink of completion.

Among the details holding up completion are ongoing discussions between Garnett's camp and the Celtics on a contract extension and the nearly $5 million of a $6.75 million trade kicker that Garnett would be forced by salary-cap rules to waive if the Celtics don't add any other players to the five already in the deal. But there were indications Monday night, sources said, that the Celtics were close to clearing those hurdles with Garnett and securing the long-term reassurance they are seeking from the 10-time All-Star.

Samuel Dalembert still hasn't received confirmation on whether he will be eligible to compete this summer for the Canadian national team, although the 76ers center is expected to represent Canada.

"We've heard nothing yet. However, we are very optimistic," Leo Rautins, the former Sixer and current Canadian national team coach, said in an e-mail.

Dalembert's agent, Marc Cornstein, had a similar reaction. "I have been given every indication he'll play for the Canadian national team," Cornstein said by phone.