Celtics Sign Second Round Pick Luke Harangody

Luke Harangody’s agent has confirmed that the Boston Celtics’ second round pick has signed a two-year, $1.3 million deal with the Celtics, this according to Yahoo!'s Adrain Wonarowski.

The Celtics selected Harangody, a 6’8" forward out of Notre Dame, with the 52nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Harangody has impressed in his short time in the NBA Summer League, scoring 23 points in his debut.

Celtics Sign First Round Pick Avery Bradley

The Celtics officially announced the signing of their first round pick in the 2010 NBA draft Avery Bradley today. The team did not reveal any details of the contract.

The Celtics selected Bradley, a freshman guard out of Texas, with the 19th overall pick in last week’s draft.

Celtics' Avery Bradley Already Needs Surgery On Left Ankle

Texas' Avery Bradley was only just drafted by the Celtics Thursday night, but already the team is announcing that the 19-year old will undergo surgery oh his ankle.

Bradley apparently suffered a sprained left ankle during a June 13th workout for Oklahoma City, which forced him to skip four other team's workouts.

The No. 19 pick will spend his summer rehabbing, and will not be playing in the summer league, said Danny Ainge on Friday. Bradley expects to be ready in time for the team's training camp when it starts in October.

"Avery will need a scope of his ankle and it will be about a six-week (recovery),'' he said. "He'll probably say three weeks weeks, but probably six to eight weeks. But he'll be 100% by training camp.''

Bradley, who most likely slipped in the draft because of the injury - Ainge was genuinely surprised at the chance to draft the Texas combo guard - seemed unconcerned.

"Right now I'm just looking to get back and get ready,'' he said.

Celtics' Draft Picks Bradley And Harangody Introduced In Waltham

On Thursday night, Texas' Avery Bradley and Notre Dame's Luke Harangody were drafted by Boston with the No. 19 and No. 52 pick, respectively. And on Friday afternoon, they were both officially introduced as the newest members of the Celtics at the team's practice facility in Waltham, Mass.

"I've had to deal with that," Harangody said. "I put my name in the draft last year, and I've heard ever since that I was going to be a second rounder. That only just motivates me more. I feel like I paid my dues in college. I wasn't good enough to get into the first round, but I feel like I just have to start all over again and just do the same thing as when I came to college because I wasn't a big name then."

Still, the reality of being in the league hit both of them once they walked through the the Celtics' practice facility

"Last night, I was still really excited," Bradley said. "I was just excited to get on the plane and land in Boston. Right when it landed, that's when it hit me that my dream came true. I'm going to get a chance to play for one of the best teams in the NBA."

2010 NBA Draft, Pick No. 52: Celtics Take Luke Harangody, Forward From Notre Dame

With the 52nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Celtics selected Luke Harangody, a forward out of Notre Dame.

In four years at Notre Dame, Harangody averaged 19.2 points per game and 9.5 rebounds. He is the No. 2 all-time scorer and rebounder in Notre Dame history.

For more on the Celtics' selection of Harangody, visit SB Nation's CelticsBlog.

CelticsBlog 'Not A Big Fan' Of Drafting Avery Bradley

SB Nation's CelticsBlog isn't a fan of the Celtics drafting Avery Bradley 19th overall ... or are they?

Initial reaction: I'm not a big fan.  I'm sure he was the guy that Danny thought was the best player available but I'm just not a big fan of combo guards.

"Needs to improve: Shooting" - not good for a combo guard.  Of course on the plus side he can defend and he can play some backup point guard - something we've needed for a while.

So upon further reflection, I'm already starting to talk myself into liking the pick.  I mean, it is hard to argue with Danny's drafting track record (please don't bring up J.R. Giddens).

2010 NBA Draft, Pick No. 19: Celtics Take Avery Bradley, Guard From Texas

With the 19th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics drafted Avery Bradley, a guard out of the University of Texas.

In 34 games last year for the Longhorns, Bradley averaged 11.6 points per game, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

For more on the drafting of Bradley, visit SB Nation's CelticsBlog.

SB Nation 2010 NBA Mock Draft: Celtics Take Gordon Hayward With No. 19 Pick

Over at SB Nation, they've posted a 2010 NBA Mock Draft, compiling the work of Scott Schroeder from Ridiculous Upside and a collection of SB Nation's NBA team bloggers.

And rather than getting the "best player available" talk or the canned "he fills an immediate need" analysis you've surely already read by now, instead you get rationalizations, explanations and early-form love letters. Here in the SB Nation Mock Draft, it's okay to reach for a role player who can't score in the lottery. And why not compare a 23-year-old rookie to Scottie Pippen with a better handle?

In the mock draft, SB Nation's excellent Celtics blog, CelticsBlog, took Butler's Gordon Hayward with the No. 19 pick.

I'm not sure how he dropped this far but he's too good to pass up. Hayward's basketball IQ is the stuff that coaches dream of and I think he fits a need backing up Pierce on the wing. If someone like this doesn't drop, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Celtics go big with someone like Solomon Alabi, Daniel Orton or Larry Sanders.

Danny Ainge: 'We’re Not Trying To Move Up'

Rumors and reports over the past couple of days have the Celtics willing to trade their No. 19 pick in Thursday nights NBA Draft, and maybe even ready to package Kendrick Perkins, too. Danny Ainge, the team's GM, spoke to that today, and while Boston will keep its options open, they will not be trying to move up: "We're not trying to move up," said Ainge. See?

This seemingly puts an end to those Perkins-and-first-round-pick package rumors, but it does not copletely rule out the Celtics making a move tonight. 

Instead, Ainge said, he is open to either moving down in the draft or out altogether - the latter option a move that could save them a scintilla of money for a veteran free agent.

Another league official, asked about the Perkins rumor, quashed the possibility, saying that it's simply too difficult to move an injured player who is about to have surgery. A team spokesman said that the Celtics center could have surgery as early as tomorrow to repair a torn medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

It is probably wise not to discount the role those torn ligaments in his right knee are playing in any trade talks, especially after it prompted one league official to comment, "No one trades [for] guys on operating table." Surgery on the knee has been postponed until the swelling goes down.

Report: Celtics Shopping Perkins, No. 19 Pick To Move Up In Draft

Before the NBA draft begins Thursday night, the Celtics may be busy pulling off a trade. With GM Danny Ainge reportedly looking to improve the team right now, Boston may be willing to deal their No. 19 pick, and now, Kendrick Perkins? According to Sam Amrick of Fanhouse, the Celtics are shopping Perkins, as well as their first-round pick, to potentially move up into a lottery position.

A league front-office source told FanHouse that the Celtics have been dangling center Kendrick Perkins and their No. 19 pick to teams with high lottery picks in attempt to add a dynamic young talent to their aging core. It's a tough sell, considering Perkins is facing surgery as early as Friday after tearing his medial collateral ligament and partially tearing his posterior cruciate ligament in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Speculation before the draft should be very interesting today. For Celtics fans, trade possiblities are something to watch for as we inch closer to draft tonight.

2010 NBA Draft: Grizzlies, Nets Interested In Boston's First Round Pick

Andy Katz of ESPN.com reports that Danny Ainge is weighing at least two offers for his No. 19 first round pick.

Boston is considering two offers for its No. 19 pick, one from Memphis and one from New Jersey, a source with knowledge of the selection told ESPN.com Wednesday night.

The Celtics are mulling over an offer from Memphis for the Grizzlies No. 25 and 28 picks while the Nets are looking at shipping the No. 27 pick in the first round and No. 31 in the second round to the Celtics for No. 19.

Source: Celtics' No. 19 Pick Drawing Little Interest

A report surfaced earlier on Wednesday that the Celtics were interested in moving their No. 19 pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft. Unfortunately for them, no one seems too interested.

According to Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com/WEEI.com, a source suggests the Celtics would be open to dealing their first-round draft pick (19th overall), but have drawn little interest. According the source, if there is a trade to be made it will most likely occur as the pick draws closer. Goodman has learned that the Celtics have a group of "around five" players they are eyeing at their spot.

2919 NBA Draft: Celtics Reportedly Willing To Trade No. 19 Pick

So much for the conjecture about the Boston Celtics trying to shop their first-round pick. When it came their turn to pick at No. 19, the Celtics drafted Avery Bradley, a combo guard out of the University of Texas. Bradley left after just his freshman season in Austin and certainly has plenty of work to do offensively before his game is NBA-ready. But he's an elite defender even at his young age. Rivers called Bradley an 'NBA ready defender' after the selection, as well as 'the guy we wanted.'

Boston still holds the No. 52 overall selection. And according to ESPN, they are trying to shop that first-round pick.

Citing "sources," ESPN reports that the Celtics would be willing to deal the 19th pick in hopes of using the guaranteed money owed to a first-round selection on a veteran free agent, and make one more legitimate run at another NBA title.

While the Celtics like some of the players who could be available at No. 19, they don't consider any of them likely to make an impact as rookies. And the team's mindset is to not use the pick on a developmental player when adding a free agent who can contribute immediately would improve their chances next season.

Apparently, GM Danny Ainge is none too interested in the possible draft selections that are expected to be there when the Celtics go on the clock. As such, any Boston movement would be based on what happens with picks No. 1-18.

Boston's desire to flip the pick will likely depend on the activity in the 18 spaces before them. The team might not be enamored with the bodies they currently project to be remaining by the time their selection comes around, but there's always the potential a lottery-type player slips within the Celtics' reach. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge is likely examining the market that exists for that No. 19 pick and considering whether the talent available in that range is outweighed by the value in moving the selection. If Boston thinks it can get the same style of player at No. 19 at the latter stages of the first round, or into the second, it makes complete sense to trade down the board.