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.

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.

Adding Kevin Garnett to Ray Allen and Paul Pierce is a coup for the Celtics, but it also figures to increase the likelihood that Kobe Bryant will step up his efforts to force his way out of Los Angeles, according to a source.

One more premier player getting traded, but not to the Lakers, means that "the Laker situation is only going to get worse," the person with knowledge of the situation said. "I'm sure Kobe's wondering, 'Why can't we do that? If Danny Ainge got it done, why can't we?'"

With the options to appease him dwindling, the next step for Bryant will be to threaten a training camp holdout and follow through on it by failing to show up when the Lakers open camp Oct. 8 in Hawaii.

It is no secret that the Bulls, among others, have long coveted future Celtic Kevin Garnett, and according to Sam Smith, Chicago tried to deal for Garnett as recently as last month's NBA Draft.

Timberwolves sources say there were discussions about the Bulls' first-round pick, which they used for Joakim Noah, a future first-rounder, Tyrus Thomas and potential short-term contracts involving P.J. Brown and others.

Minnesota balked before the 2007 draft with the Bulls, though not as strongly as it did a year ago when the Bulls were willing to part with Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft for Garnett. Teams then were told Minnesota would never deal Garnett.

According to the Boston Globe, the Celtics will send Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and two first-round picks to the Timberwolves.

The deal is said to be agreed upon by both teams pending an agreement for a massive, $60-plus million contract extension for Garnett. It would put Boston deep into the luxury tax with several roster spots open, so there was still a question about a final agreement. But the players supposedly have been told to expect a deal.

Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told The Associated Press on Monday.

Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. The official also said the Timberwolves would get at least one draft choice.

The teams "ran into a few things that need clarification" in the players' contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players ticketed for the Timberwolves.

There was a "50-50" chance that a conference call announcing the trade would be held Monday, the official said.

Sources this morning are confirming to Steve Bulpett, longtime Celtics beat writer for the Boston Herald that Boston's deal for Kevin Garnett is essentially completed.

One involved source said the final package will have the Celts sending Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and a No. 1 pick to Minnesota to acquire Garnett.

Further word is that the Celts and Garnett have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension. You may recall a report here that Danny Ainge would not do the deal without such a guarantee of Garnett?s presence, and it appears now that the perennial All-Star is willing to forego the opt-out in his current deal for next summer and cast his lot with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the Celtics.

The Celtics and Timberwolves could complete a deal that would send Kevin Garnett to Boston as early as this afternoon.

"There are serious discussions in place," the agent for Garnett, Andy Miller, said about his own negotiations with  Danny Ainge and the Celtics.  

One major issue for both sides to hash out is the $24 million player option Garnett holds for the 2008-2009 season.  The Celtics do not want to give up a young talent like Al Jefferson if Garnett leaves after one season.  

If Garnett agrees to exercise his option for the 2008-2009 season as a condition of the trade, the Celtics could extend Garnett's contract into the 2009-2010 season and beyond.

When asked about the option and his client's desire to play in Boston, Miller said: "Part of the discussion that is taking place is addressing those issues as well as others to see if the destination makes sense for all parties. Everything is part of the overall picture as to how to bring this to a conclusion or go in a different direction."

The on-again, off-again deal with the Boston Celtics acquiring Kevin Garnett apparently is back on.

According to sources, the current deal on the table has the 6-foot-11 Garnett heading to Boston and the Celtics dealing away Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff's hefty expiring contract and Rajon Rondo. There may also be other players and draft picks involved.

It's not quite done, but three industry sources ? including one close to the Celtics ? told FOXSports.com that it's extremely close and could become official within the next 48 hours.

"It's basically done," one source said. "If it does happen, this will make the Celtics relevant again."

Celtics boss Danny Ainge attempted to trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves star forward prior to the NBA Draft, but the 31-year-old perennial All-Star had no interest in heading to Boston.

However, things may have changed now that Ainge and the Celtics pulled off the draft day deal with Seattle for Ray Allen.

According to RealGM.com, the trade will not work with just the pieces mentioned in the Fox Sports article.  Boston will need to add more to accommodate any deal that includes Garnett.