KG is a Celtic - at long last

So the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes has expired, and Boston landed the big ticket.

That sucks.

First of all, the specifics: Minnesota sent KG to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, two future first-round picks, possible cash considerations and a partridge in a pear tree.

GREAT deal for the Celtics. Their Big 3 - KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen - is the most high-powered line-up of big names in the NBA (over Nash, Amare and Marion in Phoenix) and the second best set or triplets in sport today (behind the Colts' Peyton, Marvin and Addai). They immediately become contenders in the East and could give Phoenix, Dallas or San Antonio a tough match in the Finals.

For the rest of the league? Not so good.

I don't like the deal for Minnesota...but I understand it. They finally decided to re-build, so they get a few decent young guys (I like Jefferson and Green), two draft picks and a fat expiring contract. That said, I still don't understand why they didn't try to build around KG instead of dealing him.

They had one of the best players of his generation, and they never gave him a team that could contend. You have to give them credit for knowing when to fold the cards, but I still don't know if this was the best deal for them.

Two other teams that got screwed over here, but no one seems to have mentioned yet:

The Lakers. Remember how Kobe Bryant said he wanted KG on his team, or he wanted out? Well, uh, it's clear that he ain't gettin' one of those. Nor will he likely get the other one.

The Suns. Phoenix wanted to team KG with Nash and Amare (or Marion) to be the hands-on favorite to win the NBA title next year. Didn't happen. It doesn't make sense for the Suns to try and work a deal with the Lakers - who would they want from LA - so they're stuck with the team that got their tails kicked by the Spurs.

There was one other winner today: my Pacers. Indiana's been trying to send Jermaine O'Neal to Tinsel Town for Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, but LA hasn't been biting. If Kobe stays unhappy (which, if we know anything about Kobe, he will be), he'll want the Lakers to do something. Adding his good buddy (and All-Star) J.O. fits the bill. With KG out of the picture, this could (God willing) lead to Jermaine getting out of town and the Pacers starting over.