10 years ago today: Garnett traded to Celtics in blockbuster deal
It was the megadeal that jump-started the NBA's superteam era, and immediately turned the lowly Boston Celtics into a title contender and eventual champion.
On July 31, 2007, the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt one of the league's top two-way talents in Kevin Garnett to the Celtics in exchange for five players and two draft picks.
Minnesota received Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, and Sebastian Telfair, with their pair of picks becoming guards Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington.
To Celtics
| Player | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Garnett | 396 | 6233 | 3301 | 1078 | 460 | 394 |
To Timberwolves
| Player | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Jefferson | 208 | 4183 | 2162 | 333 | 176 | 300 |
| Ryan Gomes | 240 | 2957 | 1215 | 404 | 190 | 48 |
| Gerald Green | 29 | 147 | 62 | 29 | 8 | 4 |
| Theo Ratliff | 10 | 63 | 39 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
| Sebastian Telfair* | 135 | 1294 | 262 | 698 | 132 | 23 |
*Telfair's second stint with Minnesota not included.
(Stats courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com)
Boston had won just 24 games in 2007, and was looking to make a splash in order to resurrect the storied franchise. Garnett was coming off yet another All-Star campaign, yet, as spectacular as he was, the Timberwolves only won 32 games.
Garnett was resistant to the trade at first, as he was fiercely loyal to the organization. If he was going to be moved, he at least wanted some say in where his new home would be, with the Phoenix Suns reportedly being one of his preferred destinations.
Shortly after that summer's draft, the Celtics acquired sharpshooter Ray Allen from the Seattle SuperSonics after negotiations with Minnesota had seemingly fallen through. Garnett was unwilling to sign an extension in Beantown, making it clear he'd opt out of the final year of his contract to pursue free agency in 2008.
With Allen now in the picture, though, The Big Ticket changed his stance, and became open to sticking around with the Celtics beyond just the one season. A little more than a week before the trade with the Timberwolves was finalized, Garnett was given permission to speak with Boston GM Danny Ainge about his extension, adding an extra three years and $56 million to the two years he had left.
"It was probably the most simple negotiation I've been through," Garnett told Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen in 2015.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
It didn't take long for both Garnett and Allen to jell with established Celtics star Paul Pierce. Boston began the year on an eight-game winning streak, plowing through the opposition en route to a 29-3 record by Jan. 5, 2008.
When the final buzzer sounded at season's end, the Celtics had increased their win total by an astronomical 42 games (66-16), which remains the biggest turnaround ever. Garnett was named Defensive Player of the Year in the process, averaging 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 71 appearances.
Boston's postseason run wasn't without hardships, as they needed to go the distance against both the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two rounds, and then another six against the Beasts of the East in the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals.
Battling their longtime rivals in the Los Angeles Lakers with the Larry O'Brien Trophy at stake, Boston held down their home floor and snagged Game 4 on the road under the 2-3-2 format before capturing title No. 17 in Game 6 at the TD Garden.
"Anything is possible!" screamed Garnett, basking in a moment he thought he'd never experience as confetti rained down from the rafters.
In just one short year, he went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, and it was all thanks to a trade he originally didn't want.