Horford latest to work out for Celtics

WALTHAM -- His ankle had been sore for the last few days, so Al Horford would have had an excuse to sit out the three-minute run up and down the court. But Horford, his gray practice shirt drenched with sweat from a 1 1/2-hour workout at the Celtics' training facility yesterday, chose to participate in the final drill of the day. In doing so, he earned some points with coach Doc Rivers.

"You gotta do what you gotta do," said Horford, who ran 26 1/2 lengths of the court in the three minutes.

The 6-foot-10-inch, 245-pound Horford averaged 13.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks as a junior for national champion Florida last season. A power forward, he developed a reputation as a shot-blocker and aggressive rebounder who won't take long to develop in the NBA, and is generally regarded to be near the top of the second-tier prospects -- those not named Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

"He's skilled," Rivers said. "He has quick feet, good feet."

Horford was the third Gator to work out with the Celtics prior to Thursday's draft, after Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer. Of the players the Celtics have brought in, including Julian Wright of Kansas, Brandan Wright of North Carolina, and Al Thornton of Florida State, Rivers has his sights on two in particular.

He wouldn't divulge names, instead saying he likes their "high basketball IQ" -- which didn't do much to narrow the field.

Horford didn't work out against opponents, instead going through post drills with assistant coach Clifford Ray.

There's little question Horford has the tools to be a solid NBA player. But there is a question as to whether he'll be available for Boston with the No. 5 overall pick. Atlanta and Memphis, which hold the third and fourth picks, respectively, both need a back-to-the-basket power forward in Horford's mold. And Horford plays the same position as the Celtics' Al Jefferson.

The Celtics have scheduled one last workout session Wednesday involving numerous players, including Boston College's Jared Dudley.

Rivers and executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge declined to comment on remarks made by Kevin Garnett's agent, Andy Miller, Thursday that the Timberwolves star, the subject of recent trade rumors, is not interested in playing in Boston.

"It's rumors," said Ainge. "There's no benefit for me to even speculate on [it].

"We're happy with our organization and we have a lot of guys who love playing here. And that's all I really care about it."