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Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author exclusively and do not necessarily represent those of the Boston Celtics.

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Tuesday, June 23- KG and Powe Update

Danny Ainge briefly touched on injury updates today regarding Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe.

KG is on the fast track back to the court and is healing very well from his recent knee surgery. He was in Boston up until this past weekend, when he flew out to California to his summer home. The team set him up with trainers and physical therapists in California and he will also be visited by Head Athletic Trainer Ed Lacerte and Strength and Conditioning Coach Brian Doo throughout the summer.

"KG is coming along great, very well. He should be 100 percent by the time we start training camp," Ainge said.

Powe is also recovering well from his knee surgery, but due to the severity of his injury, the timetable for his return is a bit more cloudy. Although he is rehabbing and doing well, Ainge does not expect Powe to be fully recovered by the start of the season.

- Marc D'Amico

Tuesday, June 23- Ainge Talks Draft and Rumors

Whenever the words "this week" can be associated with the NBA Draft, you know wild rumors are going to be running rampant. This year, no team in the NBA has been the subject of more draft-week rumors than the Boston Celtics.

Boston Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge publicly addressed the media about the NBA Draft Tuesday morning in Waltham, and on top of questions about the 58th overall selection that the team owns, there were plenty regarding the rumor mill.

With the 58th pick, Ainge said he doesn't expect to acquire a player who will make immediate contributions, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of picking up an impact player by moving into the first round.

"We're also exploring options of players that we really like that we might move up in the draft, and what the price might be to move up in the draft," he said. "I think that's unlikely, though. I think moving up in the draft is going to be unlikely."

The reason? Ainge has found that the price to move up isn't cheap, and he doesn't want to sacrifice his team's current talent for a developmental project.

"There's not a need in drafting somebody that's not as good as the players that you have," said Ainge.

With that in mind, although he thinks the possibility of acquiring a top pick is off the radar for the Celtics, he did state that he believes there are numerous top picks available for the right price tag.

If Boston doesn't move up in the draft, Ainge likens their position to trying to find a player like Ryan Gomes, who was extremely successful at the collegiate level but for some reason or another (height, length, quickness) he has slipped under the radar.

"Usually when you draft in the 50's [you're] looking for a diamond in the rough," he said.

One player whose name was tossed in Ainge's direction was Jeff Adrien, a 6-foot-6 forward out of Connecticut. Coincidentally, Adrien was downstairs in the practice facility preparing for a six-player workout that was to begin following Ainge's press conference.

Slava Kravstov (C, Ukraine), Robert Dozier (PF, Memphis), Aaron Jackson (PG, Duquesne), Bryan Mullins (PG, Southern Illinois) and Geoff McDermott (SF, Providence) were slated to participate in the workout alongside Adrien.

Next on tap, which was certainly expected, was the massive trade rumors that have swirled around the league concerning the Celtics' budding star point guard, Rajon Rondo.

Ainge made it clear that he will never go out on a limb and publicly state that any player is "untradeable," but he did state emphatically that the Celtics are extremely pleased with Rondo as a person and player and are intrigued by his future potential.

"We love Rajon, and I think everybody in here knows how good of a player he is and what sort of a bright future he has," he said.

"The notion that we might be trading him because of some reason, other than we think that we could be better... [like] his contract situation, I've heard speculation. I've heard speculation of 'We're dissatisfied with him and his attitude.' That stuff is so false. 'He showed up late for a playoff game, so we're going to trade him.' None of those things are true. We love the kid. And we think he's got a very bright future."

To take things to another level, Ainge said he expects no trades this offseason that include any of the Celtics' core players.

Overall, and as expected, Ainge avoided giving any concrete answers concerning the Celtics' plans for Thursday night's draft. While he denied many rumors, he left many possibilities open for possible moves. If we've learned anything in the recent past concerning Ainge's draft-night strategies, it's to never say never and be prepared for anything.

No big moves are anticipated at the moment, and the C's stand at No. 58 on the draft board. Only time will tell if that's where Ainge keeps them.

- Marc D'Amico