Garnett returning to Celtics

The Boston Celtics made it official: Kevin Garnett is coming back as part of the team's efforts to keep key pieces after losing Ray Allen to the Miami Heat.

More than a week after Garnett reportedly agreed to a three-year contract, the team announced Saturday that he, forward Brandon Bass and center-forward Chris Wilcox had re-signed.

Backup forward Jeff Green, who missed all last season with an aortic aneurysm that required surgery, and free agent guard Jason Terry still haven't signed but were at a news conference with Bass, Wilcox and Celtics president Danny Ainge.

The deals for Green and Terry could be signed next week, but the delays are the result of the team's maneuvering under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Garnett, the Celtics' emotional leader, is the most important player returning, especially after Allen's decision to leave as a free agent broke up the Big Three of him, Garnett and Paul Pierce that won one championship in five seasons together. Last season, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals where they lost to eventual champion Miami in seven games.

Gordon staying in New Orleans: The Hornets matched the Phoenix Suns' four-year, $58 million offer to Eric Gordon, keeping the restricted free agent guard in New Orleans.

The move to retain Gordon was expected, as Hornets general manager Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams had indicated they hoped the 23-year-old former Indiana standout could be the center piece of a rebuilding effort that will also include first overall draft choice Anthony Davis and No. 10 pick Austin Rivers.

Felton coming back to New York: Raymond Felton is returning to New York, calling into question whether the Knicks plan to re-sign fellow point guard Jeremy Lin.

Felton's agent confirmed a Yahoo Sports report that Felton would be signed and traded by Portland to New York.

Lin has signed an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, and the Knicks have repeatedly said they would match any offer for their breakout star. But with the third year of the contract worth about $15 million, they can certainly pass now after signing Jason Kidd and now getting Felton back.

Felton played well in half a season in New York before the Knicks sent him to Denver as part of the package for Carmelo Anthony in February 2011.