Celtics sign Garnett

Garnett is an athletic power forward still searching for his first NBA title after spending his first 12 years in the league with the Timberwolves.

"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," Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said in a statement.

The Celtics will ship to the Timberwolves forwards Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, center Theo Ratliff, guard Sebastian Telfair and two first-round draft picks.

At 6-foot-11, 253 pounds, the 31-year-old Garnett is one of just five players in NBA history to amass at least 19,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.

Garnett originally balked at getting traded to Boston, a youthful team that finished with the second-worst record in the NBA last season at 24-58.

But the Celtics' draft-day acquisition of 32-year-old seven-times All-Star guard Ray Allen appeared to have helped change his mind.

Also on Boston's roster is 29-year-old forward Paul Pierce, a five-times All-Star. While Boston shipped to Minnesota most of its youth, Garnett, Allen and Pierce wearing the same uniform is a dangerous combination.

"You need veterans to win in this game," Pierce said. "We've all been on teams where you had to carry a lot of the load over the years, and we all know you can't win that way."

The three athletes have a long history together - and noted at a press conference that they met more than a decade ago, when they were all high school players.

"I am excited to become a Celtic," said Garnett, the 2004 league MVP. "It's wonderful to have the opportunity to play with players of 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. This is probably my best opportunity of winning a [championship] ring."

Garnett has career averages of 20.4 points and 11.4 rebounds and has been named to the All-NBA Defensive first or second teams eight times.

He scored 22.4 points a game last season and led the league in rebounding with a 12.8 average.

The Celtics have won 16 NBA championships but none since the 1985-86 season.

"Those are the days that we're headed back to here, that an opponent will walk into this building knowing they have a lot to be afraid of," Allen said.