Ainge, Celtics prepare for a critical offseason

WALTHAM -- Until Danny Ainge awoke yesterday, his most "critical" offseason as Celtics executive director of basketball operations was the summer of 2006. He landed Rajon Rondo, Allan Ray, Leon Powe, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Michael Olowokandi, and Kevin Pittsnogle. Not exactly the Team of Tomorrow, though Rondo, Ray, and Powe showed promise this season.

Between now and the start of training camp in Italy in October, Ainge must acquire the kind of talent that can take a 24-win team to the playoffs. With another "critical" offseason upon them, neither the Celtics nor their fan base can endure many more without dramatic results to show for draft picks and deals.

Ainge said earlier this week he would be comfortable starting next season with a nucleus of Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Rondo, and their top draft pick. He won't be rushed into a deal that jeopardizes the future of the franchise for short-term gain. But Ainge claimed he was willing to part with his young players, with Jefferson likely the exception.

"I've always been prepared to [deal our young players]," said Ainge. "In deals I've tried to do, I think other people value their players too much. When we meet as a committee, and we have a lot of people in our committee . . . we are almost always unanimous in whether we'll do the deal or we won't do the deal. There's discussion and we go through every little detail of the possible deals.

"I don't think it's a matter of us thinking these guys are way better and we're never going to trade them. I love the guys that we drafted. I love the young guys that are here and the hard work that they've put in, but it's not my team. It's the Boston Celtics' team. It's owned by people who have hired me to represent them, the city of Boston, our season ticket-holders. It's not my team, so it's not my prerogative to fall in love with a player and not do what's best for the Boston Celtics."

Decisions may be weighed by a sizable committee, but Ainge was hired to make the tough calls. Bad trades and poor draft-day decisions should rest squarely on his shoulders, although Ainge has been successful when drafting, especially in the second round.

If the Celtics don't receive the No. 1 or 2 pick in the draft lottery May 22, Ainge's decision-making will be put to the test. According to team sources, Florida State forward Al Thornton is an Ainge favorite, though his name has not been discussed as a top-five pick.

According to the Columbus Dispatch and FoxSports.com, Greg Oden will declare for the draft today. League sources have said Mike Conley Sr., a certified NBA agent, has been calling every NBA team to see if he can get a first-round guarantee for his son, Ohio State point guard Mike Conley Jr. Conley Sr. plans to represent Oden and his son, who have a very strong friendship. Conley and teammate Daequan Cook will also enter the draft today, according to the Columbus Dispatch and FoxSports.com.

"We have scenarios of what we would like to do with the No. 1 pick," said Ainge. "We have scenarios of what we would like to do with the No. 2 pick, the No. 3 pick, the No. 4 pick, the No. 5 pick. We have all kinds of scenarios, what we could do to trade down in the draft and what we might need to do to move up in the draft, although I do anticipate moving up in the draft will be very, very difficult and very costly in this particular draft."

Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com.