It could get expensive

The Kevin Garnett deal will push the Celtics into luxury tax territory this upcoming season. Factoring the trade kicker into the equation, the three-year extension will total $60 million. The actual extension comes to $51 million, $14.6 million for the 2009-10 season, $17 million for 2010-11, and $19.4 million for 2011-12.

But the cap numbers for Garnett increase by $1.8 million for each of the five years remaining on his contract, evenly spreading the trade kicker and bonuses. The Celtics will pay Garnett $105 million for the next five years ($23.8 million for 2007-08, $24.8 million for 2008-09, $16.4 million for 2009-10, $18.8 million for 2010-11, and $21.2 million for 2011-12).

Those big numbers mean that with Garnett added to big-money teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics' payroll stands at $67,996,087 for the nine players under contract before yesterday's signings.

That surpasses the 2007-08 luxury tax threshold ($67.865 million) with four more players needed to meet the league minimum of 13.

While Boston entering luxury tax territory is not good news for team accountants, it may make ownership more willing to spend a considerable amount to acquire free agents such as Brevin Knight and Dikembe Mutombo. Organizations will try to avoid the luxury tax, but once it becomes inevitable, it usually doesn't make sense to still try to save money at the expense of failing to add the right players.

The Celtics signed guards Eddie House and Jackie Manuel to one-year contracts, said executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge yesterday afternoon. While House and Manual help fill out the final roster, Ainge said the Celtics "we're not done yet."

House, entering his eighth NBA season, stands to make $1.1 million with the veteran minimum. Manuel, coming off a season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA development league, did not receive a fully guaranteed deal.

"Eddie is one of the best shooters in the league," said Ainge. "He adds firepower to our bench and depth to our backcourt."

With regard to Manuel, a former North Carolina player, Ainge said, "He's a great defender."

House and Manuel give Boston 11 players under contract, two shy of the league minimum.

The 6-foot-1-inch House spent last season with the New Jersey Nets, appearing in 56 games and averaging 8.4 points in 16.8 minutes. He has played for the Miami, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Phoenix, New Jersey, and the L.A. Clippers. House enjoyed his best year during the 2005-06 season, when he appeared in 81 games for the Suns, averaged 9.8 points, and shot 42 percent from the floor.

Garnett described himself as "a kid in a candy store" as he prepared to throw out the first pitch at last night's Red Sox game at Fenway Park. He warmed up by throwing just one sidearm pitch for a strike in the cage behind the Sox bullpen. Once on the mound, Garnett softly tossed a high-arcing pitch over the plate to David Ortiz, who knew Garnett from his days in Minnesota.

When told that Ortiz mentioned Garnett could "own this town," the power forward laughed and said, "I'm not here to own the town. I'm here to help Paul and Ray along with Doc [ Rivers] and the Celtics organization win a championship. That's why I'm here.

"I'm here to have some fun, continue to enjoy the game of basketball, enjoy the city, the state . . . This is a sports town. You have some diehard fans. It's probably more intense here than in other places . . . This is a good situation and I'm here to embrace it."

In the most serious moment of his interview, Garnett answered a question about the "racial climate" of Boston, which has been considered inhospitable to black athletes but now boasts several major black sports figures.

"I think it's an old cliché that's going to soon disappear, if it's not evaporating as we speak," said Garnett. "The proof is in the pudding. People say a lot of things, but to experience something is totally different. Antoine [ Walker] didn't have to tell me all the good things that he had to tell me about the city. I think he was very honest along with Gary Payton, brutally honest about fans and the people here. Racism is universal . . . I haven't experienced it. I'm from the South. Things happen down there. It shouldn't be what Boston is known for. It should be these fans and their love, so I'm embracing that."

When he took the field, Garnett appeared genuinely touched by the warm response from the crowd, tipping his cap twice as he approached the mound. Garnett seemed markedly looser than when he previously came to town for NBA games. He commented that he can be quite different during his pregame routine and wanted to be respectful of the Red Sox when he visited the clubhouse.

"I try to respect the fact that they do have a game, stay out of the way," said Garnett. "For me, it's pleasurable. For them, they're actually performing. I'm funny before a game. Baseball is totally different. They're sociable [before the game]. Everybody was sitting [in the clubhouse] getting ready, kind of focusing. I didn't want to mess that up, so I just came and said, 'Hello.' I got to meet [Eric ] Gagne. That was cool. He just got here. I think his head is spinning a little faster than mine."

In light of the bridge tragedy in Minneapolis, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor postponed a news conference last night that was to introduce the players acquired in the Garnett deal.