At a press conference in Boston, Kevin Garnett sounded as if he felt a little betrayed by an organization he has been so loyal to for so many years.

"I guess at the end of the day, I'm loyal to a point where I feel if someone's loyal to me then I have no problem with that," Garnett said. "But when that changes, it's pretty easy for me."

Owner Glen Taylor said he didn't know how to respond to that, nor to Garnett's glowing assessment of the Celtics' "professional" organization, a clear shot at the disarray in Minnesota.

"If he could have had his druthers and everything would have worked out, he preferred to stay here," Taylor said. "He always assumed, as I did, that we would be together. That was his goal and that's what he wanted. He was a little emotional when he talked to me. Sort of like you're parting with good friends, but you have to get on with your journey."