BEIJING, Aug.1 (Xinhuanet) -- Ten-time National Basketball Association All-Star Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the 31-year-old forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official said on Monday.

Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. The official also said the Timberwolves would get at least one selection in the annual National Basketball Association draft.

Boston Celtics new signing Kevin Garnett, previously from the Minnesota Timberwolves, smiles at a news conference in Boston, Massachusetts July 31, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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The teams still had some things to clarify with the players' contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players designated for the Timberwolves.

Garnett has spent all of his 12 NBA seasons with Minnesota. He would get an extension of his contract, which has one year plus an option year remaining, the official said.

The Celtics had tried to get Garnett late last month, but his agent said he didn't want to go to Boston.

Since then, Boston acquired seven-time All-Star guard Ray Allen from Seattle in a draft day deal. Already with Paul Pierce, the Celtics would become instant contenders in the mediocre Atlantic Division with Garnett, even without promising forward Jefferson.

The Celtics obtained Allen and the 35th pick of the draft for guards Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak, and forward Jeff Green of Georgetown, whom they drafted with the fifth pick.

The Celtics have won just three playoff series during Pierce's nine years with them. They still have an NBA-record 16 championships, but none since 1986.

Meanwhile, China's top basketball official is to travel to the US to try and end the standoff between the Milwaukee Bucks and their top draft pick Yi Jianliang, it was reported yesterday.

The 2.13-meter power forward is said to have snubbed a move to Milwaukee despite being the overall sixth choice in last month's draft and faces a year away from the NBA if he cannot resolve the dispute or secure a trade.

Yi is currently playing for China in the Stankovic Cup in his home province of Guang-dong but an expected visit by Bucks' officials to discuss the stalemate has not materialized.

"I will go to the United States in the coming days to help Yi solve the problem," China Basketball Association (CBA) chief Li Yuanwei was quoted as saying. "I will have a talk with Yi at the Stankovic Cup to see what he thinks."

(Source: Shanghai Daily)