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Boston Celtics 2002 Draft Preview
June 20, 2002

(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics took advantage of this season's wide open Eastern Conference playoff field and used a wide open style of play to advance just two games away from making their first NBA Finals appearance since 1987. With All-Stars Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker leading the charge and coach Jim O'Brien at the helm, the Celtics injected the city of Boston with basketball fever not felt in a decade.

That's the good news.

While the Celtics conjured up ghosts of their championship teams of the past, their dreams for such success in the upcoming season could prove to be an illusion. O'Brien's squad relied heavily on jump shooting and the long-range skills of Pierce, Walker and Rodney Rogers throughout the playoffs. That formula got them far, but jump-shooting teams have never been the prototypical NBA juggernauts (the C's shot 27.3 percent from beyond the arc in the conference finals). Boston is also void of talent along the frontcourt, except for an occasional outburst from Eric Williams or Tony Battie.

There's no denying the electricity of Pierce and Walker, but the franchise may have mortgaged its future when it traded away future star Joe Johnson before the trade deadline. Boston needs a consistent third scorer to have a chance at winning, and Kenny Anderson was only such a threat in spurts. Johnson could have filled that role down the road, but Boston went for the kill this year and came up short.

Rogers, who the Celtics acquired from the Phoenix Suns in return for Johnson, is a free agent. Making matters worse, Boston's highest -- and only -- pick in this Wednesday's Draft is the 50th overall selection. But what has the biggest stranglehold on Boston's plans of another championship run is the salary cap. In order to re-sign Rogers or bring in a big-ticket free agent, the team would be treading into luxury tax territory.

Barring a trade, the Celtics won't be adding any top-notch talent to the roster next week. Look for Boston to select a player to possibly fill Rogers' role, since he could be headed elsewhere, or a big-bodied player to become a defensive specialist. Such players could include 6-foot-8, 260-pound Lonny Baxter from National Champion Maryland or Robert Archibald of Illinois. Taking a foreigner here wouldn't be a surprise either.

Starting Lineup: C-Tony Battie, PF-Antoine Walker, SF-Rodney Rogers, SG-Paul Pierce, PG-Kenny Anderson.

Bench: G-Tony Delk, F-Eric Williams, C-Vitaly Potapenko, F-Walter McCarty, G- Erick Strickland.

Team Needs: Starting center, post defender.

Draft Selections: 50th.

06/20 12:38:55 ET