Ainge is looking ahead

GM scouting draft prospects

Now that the Celtics' roster is likely complete for the season, general manager Danny Ainge is working on the future.

The Celtics recently solidified their roster by adding veterans Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown. So Ainge is on the road scouting for the draft, planning to check out the Pacific-10 and West Coast Conference tournaments.

"Before draft time, you've got to get a feel for the top 60 guys in the draft," said Ainge.

If the Celtics maintain the best regular-season record in the NBA, they will have the 30th and last first-round pick. The draft could be quite deep if numerous talented underclassmen come out. That would be good news for Boston.

"This year's draft depends on how many freshmen come out," Ainge said. "It could be a deep draft. The underclassmen that will come out will determine the draft.

"It's going to be interesting. It could be loaded with underclassmen. It will be interesting to see who comes out and who stays."

The Celtics have found success late in the first round and in the second round in recent years.

In the first round in 2004, Boston acquired Delonte West (now starting for Cleveland) with the 24th pick and Tony Allen with the 25th. In 2005, forward Ryan Gomes (now starting for Minnesota) was selected with the 50th pick. The Celtics drafted current starting point guard Rajon Rondo with the 21st pick in 2006. Point guard Gabe Pruitt, who is playing for Utah in the Development League, was selected 32d last year. Boston also acquired the rights to forward Glen Davis, the 35th pick, from Seattle in the Ray Allen trade.

Despite that success, Ainge said he is open-minded about trading his draft picks if a deal can add a veteran who could help immediately.

"We can find someone that can help us," Ainge said. "The big question is, will we draft someone to the team? We have some good young guys and some good veterans. Do we add a veteran? Trade the pick for a veteran?"

While the homegrown talent is strong, Ainge added that there is "not a large amount" of international talent. French swingman Nicolas Batum and Italian forward Danilo Gallinari are widely considered potential lottery picks, but there aren't many strong international prospects after them.

When asked if he would make an international scouting trip, Ainge said: "Only if my two European scouts tell me I need to get out there. I saw [the top international prospects] a few times already. If they tell me there is more, I will. But we are scouting out there."

Bald for a cause

Brian Scalabrine shaved his head to help raise awareness for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which has raised more than $34 million for child cancer research with head shavings in 18 countries. Scalabrine was shaved Thursday and also shaved heads at The Greatest Bar across the street from TD Banknorth Garden.

"My wife is all good with it," he said. "She knows it's for a good cause. But my daughter was a little scared. She'll be turning 1 in a few weeks.

"She crawled right away from me, looking back scared. But by the time I came back from shootaround [yesterday], she was all good with it."

A grand slam

On his surprising dunk over Pistons forward Jason Maxiell Wednesday, Rondo said: "I've [dunked] on three people. That was the nastiest. That was the most contact. I'm going to get the picture." Rondo added that he hasn't seen the replay . . . Chicago interim coach Jim Boylan praised Brown, a former Bull. "P.J's a good guy," he said. "I'm sure he'll bring a lot of energy and experience to their team." . . . Davis's former Louisiana State teammate and close friend Tyrus Thomas served the second of his two-game suspension for an unexcused absence from a Bulls practice. "I talked to him," said Davis. "I know what kind of guy he is. I know where he is coming from. It is what it is." Thomas is reportedly unhappy over playing time . . . Ainge said Scot Pollard is still uncertain when and where he will have season-ending left ankle surgery. Pollard, who also was suffering from the flu yesterday, said he was leaning toward having surgery performed in Indiana by the specialist who has treated him for some time.