So, what is Ainge up to with the NBA draft set for tonight at Madison Square Garden?
A. Desperately hoping to unload the No. 5 pick for veteran talent.
B. Trying to decide among 7-foot Chinese power forward Yi, Florida forward Brewer, and Georgetown forward Green.
C. Figuring out the best option if Boston trades down.
D. He doesn't know.
While an increasingly restless fan base along with some agents and NBA executives might be tempted to pick D, Ainge said yesterday he is prepared for the draft and reached "a point where the only thing that determines who we choose is who's available." And Ainge believes whomever the Celtics select at No. 5 will make an impact next season, though he didn't say how much, what kind of impact, or exactly when.
With Greg Oden and Kevin Durant certain to disappear with the top two picks, the real draft begins when the Hawks select at No. 3. Atlanta's pick (many expect it to be Florida forward/center Horford) will likely determine whether the player Boston has at the top of its list will be available, or if a higher-rated player will slide to No. 5. That is, if the Celtics exercise the pick.
Meeting with reporters for the last time before draft, Ainge said it appeared "unlikely" the Celtics would move the No. 5 pick. But he expects the roster will undergo changes before next season and said he "would like" to make moves in the future.
"I'm expecting to make our pick," said Ainge. "I'm excited about the fifth pick. I think the fifth pick can be an exciting part of our team this year and an important piece of our future."
When asked why he did not expect to trade the pick, Ainge added, "I felt that way from the beginning, that trades are hard to come by. We value our fifth pick. We value the players on the team. There's nothing that we're close to doing."
