Source: Celtics may trade pick

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According to an NBA source, the Celtics and other teams picking late in the first round of the draft are strongly considering trading their pick or getting a prospect they can develop overseas. Memphis, for one, is trying to trade the 28th overall pick. Don't be surprised if the Celtics are interested in such international players as French forward Nicolas Batum, Congo forward/center Serge Ibaka, French center Alexis Ajinca, Turkish center Omer Asik, and Montenegro forward/center Nikola Pekovic. The source said Batum's stock is dropping dramatically because of heart concerns, for which his workout in Toronto was canceled.

Boston Globe

Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, AP Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, AP
June 22, 2008  11:09 AM ET

just wait for nathan jawai (from australia) at the end of the first round pass him up at your own risk because the bucks will take him 100% at pick 37 although there is talk thay are already trying to move late into the first round to aquire him

June 22, 2008  11:44 AM ET

No way Batum's "stock is dropping" all the way out of the first round.

June 22, 2008  12:05 PM ET

Celtics need to start developing a scorer who can take some minutes from Pierce and Allen. Those guys only have a few years left

June 22, 2008  12:06 PM ET

Just like with most other drafts, there will be a lot of surprises in the 2nd half of the 1st round. While the top half of the draft is trying to get a point guard, there are some game-changers that will come from the bottom half.

June 22, 2008  12:53 PM ET

draft sasha kaun...great energy guy n is worth dat spot..he can defend n play hard..it would only help

June 22, 2008  02:08 PM ET

Danny Ainge loves international players. He scouts them heavily, though rarely drafts them.

The feeling in Boston is that he will draft the best available big and develop him to be the back up to Perkins a year or so from now. Then, down the line as Allens contract comes up, they can worry about developing a young scorer. Remember, they don't have a 1st rounder a year from now...

June 22, 2008  02:27 PM ET

yeah all those European players the Lakers had really came up big in the finals. Ha!! if the NBA really starts cracking down on "flopping" what kind of NBA career can any European, or South American have?

June 22, 2008  02:28 PM ET

Ryan Anderson and D.J. White could be possibilities should Boston decide to keep the pick. Ante Tomic, 7'2, KK Zagreb could be that "project" Ainge could let develop overseas for a year or two.

June 22, 2008  02:31 PM ET

Celtics owe next year's first round pick to the timberwolves. This would preclude them trading the pick, unless they first make the pick then trade the pick made. The players mentioned above more than likely do not want to be stashed in Europe. They came into the draft wanting to play in the NBA next year.

June 22, 2008  02:34 PM ET

The Celticsowe their 2009 pick to the Timberwolves. This precludes them form trading the pick. They would have to draft a player then make the trade.

June 22, 2008  03:44 PM ET

One would think after witnessing the notoriously deficient defensive abilities of European players that the Celtics (or any other team for that matter) would start looking within the shores of the U.S. for their next best thing. I mean, go back as far as you want and you'll find European players who could score, pass (?) and that's about it. Celtic fans... remember Dino Radja... *sigh* If defense truly is the stuff of champions and a team decides to draft a European, they better be ready to do a lot of work on the defensive end.

June 22, 2008  03:49 PM ET

Interesting situation for the Celts they could draft a future replacement or big need (not that there really are any) --- Either way the Celtics will do what is best for themselves. Ainge is a big boy, he can handle it.

June 22, 2008  06:10 PM ET

Funny how everyone's knocking Euro players on their defense. I am a celtic fan and I was worried about Sasha Vujacic's defense. He was all over the place with his energy. Euro players are great fundamentally. They just need to toughen up. Although I still hate Ainge (his trades for KG and Allen last year was one that he owed to the true fans) and most of his personnel moves, I have to admit he drafts pretty well (Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Gerald Green). I hope he makes a smart move this year. Personally I would like him to trade the pick (give it to the Bucks if they want to move up) then hope for a lottery pick next year.

June 22, 2008  07:04 PM ET

This pick can't have much trade value even in this draft, the celtics are better off picking at this spot, maybe bill walker, devon hardin, serge ibaka, jamont gordon some kind of young athletic presence to avoid turning into the spurs. Jamont would be a pefect fit because he is a big strong backup point guard that can guard chauncey billups and other big point guards (something rondo had trouble with). They can get better value picking than trading. I never thought I'd say this, but I would just trust Danny Ainge's judgement here and pick. I deffinetly never thought I'd say that.

June 22, 2008  07:37 PM ET

I can't worry about the draft - I'm still basking in the championship !!!

June 22, 2008  09:25 PM ET

yeah all those European players the Lakers had really came up big in the finals. Ha!! if the NBA really starts cracking down on "flopping" what kind of NBA career can any European, or South American have?
Cheesedaddy

I seem to recall several American players over the years do some pretty good flopping of their own. stop calling it and it will stop.

June 22, 2008  09:33 PM ET

So...now the draft pick that the Lakers gave to Memphis is lousy, eh? Exactly WHY did Memphis make that trade, anyway? Did they think that the Lakers + Gasol = lottery or something?

June 23, 2008  01:52 AM ET

Ya this is good, trade away young talent every year and keep your old players who's primes are ending. great idea celtics.

June 23, 2008  02:25 AM ET

yeah all those European players the Lakers had really came up big in the finals. Ha!! if the NBA really starts cracking down on "flopping" what kind of NBA career can any European, or South American have?
Cheesedaddy

hey bruce bowen is an american

 
June 23, 2008  02:44 AM ET

hopefully Danny can do with this pick what happens in the NFL draft and trade it to a team that will not be as good next year to get back in that draft or get a second pick in the 2010 draft. Either way, in Danny i trust!

17! baby!

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