Boston Celtics 2012 Draft Preview
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The first order of business in Beantown is figuring out the future of Kevin Garnett, the veteran unrestricted free agent who had a brilliant playoff run before the Celtics bowed out to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.
According to Boston general manger Danny Ainge, the 36-year-old Garnett, who just finished his 17th season, needs time to come to a decision regarding what he wants to do with his basketball career moving forward.
"Kevin and I had a good conversation and the conversation was mostly on how he needs time before he makes that decision," Ainge told WEEI in Boston. "He may want to wait and see what sort of team we have. I'm not sure. I know that he wants to come back. I know he likes Boston, and I know he loves playing for (coach) Doc (Rivers)."
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With or without Garnett the Celtics will need help up front since power forward Brandon Bass will also test the free agent market and backup center Greg Stiemsma is a restricted free agent.
With consecutive picks at 21 and 22, Boston will likely look at big men like Iowa State's Royce White or Syracuse center Fab Melo. Baylor's Perry Jones might also be a fit if he continues to fall.
White is believed to have already received a guarantee from Boston that he will be selected with one of its picks if he is still on the board.
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In other draft news, the Celtics were awarded a second-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2013 draft as part of a ruling in a trade disclosure dispute involving the medical condition of forward Jeff Green.
Green, who was acquired in February 2011 in the trade that sent Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder, had surgery Jan. 9 to repair an aortic aneurysm that was detected during a physical on Dec. 9. He played 26 games for the Celtics last season after the deal but sat out the entire 2011-12 campaign.
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced the ruling Tuesday, finding "that there was no evidence of bad faith or any intent to withhold information on the part of Thunder management or its physicians."
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However, the commissioner also found that cardiologists for the Thunder possessed information about Green that was not shared with the team's management that should have been disclosed to the Celtics.
Players under contract: G: Avery Bradley; F: JaJuan Johnson; G: E'Twaun Moore; F: Paul Pierce; G: Rajon Rondo; F/C: Sean William
Free Agents: G: Ray Allen; F: Brandon Bass (unrestricted, player option); F/G: Marquis Daniels; G: Keyon Dooling; C/F: Kevin Garnett; F: Jeff Green; C: Ryan Hollins; F/G: Sasha Pavlovic; G/F: Mickael Pietrus; C: Greg Stiemsma (restricted)
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Draft History: 2011: MarShon Brooks (25), E'Twaun Moore (55) 2010: Avery Bradley (19), Luke Harangody (52) 2009: Lester Hudson (58) 2008: J.R. Giddens (30), Semih Erden (60) 2007: Jeff Green (5), Gabe Pruitt (32)
Draft picks: 1st round (21st overall, 22nd overall), 2nd round (51st overall)