As you have probably heard already, Kevin Garnett has, through his agent, shot down the idea of playing in Boston. (Garnett has leverage, because he'll be a free agent after this upcoming season.)

ESPN's Marc Stein reports that is only the tip of the iceberg of Boston doom:

Complicating matters further, Marion also has the right to become a free agent after the 2007-08 season and has also let it be known that he doesn't want to play in Minnesota or Boston, sources say. That stance quickly killed the possibility of a three-way deal involving Minnesota, Phoenix and Boston.

The Suns, meanwhile, are understandably hesitant to part with Stoudemire and have tried unsuccessfully to strike a deal without giving him up. Even though Garnett would certainly help Phoenix in the short term by supplying an instant boost of veteran savvy, while also likely improving team chemistry and addressing their biggest weakness -- matching up with San Antonio's Tim Duncan -- Stoudemire is only 24 and would appear to have limitless potential after making the most high-flying comeback from microfracture knee surgery that the league has ever seen.

Although Miller declined to specify a team when asked where Garnett would prefer to be dealt -- "Too early," he said -- it's believed that Phoenix will increase its efforts between now and Thursday's draft to assembling a Stoudemire-less package to satisfy Minnesota's requirements, perhaps by pulling in another team or two.

Or perhaps they'll reverse course and surrender Stoudemire, which would finally lead to a real Garnett deal after ceaseless KG trade speculation over the past several years.

So that leaves Danny Ainge with young players who know they are not seen as the first option to revive the franchise, little shot at building around the imported stars he covets, and a firm affirmation from some of the league's best players that Boston is not a destination of choice.

Bummer.

Meanwhile, some Eastern Conference officials are confident that Garnett would have made the Celtics really good.

Jeff from CelticsBlog is trying to figure it all out:

Umm, what's so bad about Boston? Is the weather really that bad? Is the racist-city reputation still that strong? None of that matters to NFL stars that take less money to play for the Pats. Doesn't this team have one of the best young rosters in the league or are we fans really overvaluing our youth? Are Doc and Danny really thought of as Dumb and Dumber? ... So you have to wonder if the team will finally reach the end of those options and seriously consider dealing Pierce and building the team around Jefferson. Sad as it may sound, that might be the option that makes the most sense at this point. Of course there is also the do nothing option that I've been against from day one. You could hold on to Pierce, draft at 5, and let the players get healthy to see what you've got this year. Still, that seems like a missed opportunity in this summer of upheaval. So what's next? Who can tell? It should be an interesting summer though.

UPDATE: ESPN Insider Chad Ford talked to Danny Ainge who says the team will likely keep the fifth pick, and Ford has an interesting thought:

I think Boston's selection in the draft will probably say a lot about the future of the franchise. If they take an upside guy like Yi Jianlian or Corey Brewer, I think there's a good chance the Celtics will turn their focus to trading Paul Pierce. If Ainge selects Jeff Green, the most NBA-ready of the guys on Boston's wish list, that could be a sign that the Celtics will try to work the rookie into the lineup next year and find another veteran or two to help them compete.