For Marcus Banks and Kendrick Perkins, it wasn't all about the money. When both chose to shut themselves off from further workouts with clubs and accept promises from the Celtics that they would go no lower than 16 and 20 (Perkins' advisers made the call for him), it was with the idea that money cannot always buy job satisfaction.

``Mine started like maybe a month ago,'' Banks said of the commitment process with the Celts. ``I was talking with Danny Ainge a lot - and of course my agent.

``There was a lot of deals going on about different teams, and Boston stayed really loyal to me. And that's what I'm about. I'm a loyal guy. You know, if he can commit to me, I can commit to him. It makes the process that much easier.''

Having just completed high school, Perkins didn't want to concern himself with backroom wheelings and dealings.

``I just played basketball,'' said the ample 6-foot-10 project, ``because we had a rule that my coaches handle all the business and I just play basketball. That took a lot of pressure off of me.''

By being assured a spot in the first round - and the guaranteed three-year deal that comes with it on the NBA's rookie salary scale - Perkins avoided other pressures. His representative, Bob Myers, was happy to get a handshake with the C's.