Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Did I get your attention there? I thought so!

No, the trade has not happened (yet) and no, I do not have any inside info. But I’m going to go out on a limb here and tell you that I now strongly believe Kevin Garnett will be in a Boston Celtics uniform next year. Here’s why;

Despite all the teams and names being thrown around as possibilities in 3-way, 4-way, 21-way talks, whatever talks are ongoing, the best possible deal for the Minnesota Timberwolves is still the one with the Celtics. The Lakers don’t have enough to get it done. The Suns don’t unless they include Amare Stoudemire, which they don’t want to do. The T’Wolves don’t want Garnett playing in the Western Conference. The 4-way deal bringing Indiana into the mix ended when the Celtics walked away because they aren’t going to include Al Jefferson in any deal that doesn’t land Garnett. Kevin McHale clearly thinks Jefferson and that #5 pick are the best possible deal for his team, barring a change of heart in Phoenix about including Stoudemire. Danny Ainge realizes he has to do something big or Paul Pierce will demand a trade, ruining any leverage the C’s might have in trade talks involving their existing star. Put all the pieces together, and it becomes clear that the Boston-Minnesota deal has to get done because it’s in the best interests of all parties involved.

Now then, here’s how I see it all shaking out; Despite Garnett’s reluctance to come to Boston, he’ll realize at some point late Wednesday night that his desire to play with Steve Nash isn’t going to happen, and the Timberwolves won’t just give him away. The only options he’ll be left with at that point are to stay in Minnesota or play for the Celtics. Seeing as the Wolves are hell-bent on trading their franchise player and that the cat’s been out of the bag on this one for weeks, there has to be an incredible amount of bad blood developed on both sides. KG will realize (if he doesn’t already) that he can’t go back there, and after being sweet-talked by Ainge, Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce, he will agree to not opt out of his contract after 2008, clearing the way for Ainge to pull the trigger.

For all the criticism Dealer Danny has earned around these parts, I think he’s done an outstanding job setting up for just this scenario over the last few years. In the sweepstakes to acquire the best available player on the market, the Celtics have more desirable assets than anyone else willing to make the trade. Ainge is the one who acquired those assets. He’s the one who smartly backed out of the 4-way deal, realizing he still has what McHale really wants, so why give it up for Jermaine O’Neal. I’m sure Danny would have gladly taken O’Neal if it only meant giving up #5 and Gerald Green, but not Big Al. And even if he doesn’t land KG, Ainge will come out of Thursday with either Shawn Marion or Pau Gasol without giving up Jefferson, to satisfy Pierce, because he has the most cheap, tradable assets of anyone.

Kevin Garnett is definitely coming to Boston. Remember, you heard it here first! (Feel free to tell me that you think all this dizzying trade talk has made me finally go insane!)