With the futures game played out at last week's NBA draft, teams can start to pursue established talent through free agency. Teams may begin negotiating with free agents today, though they cannot sign players until July 16. But for most franchises, including the Celtics, free agency is a waiting game that will last well into the summer.

Like most NBA organizations, the Celtics are over the salary cap and want to keep payroll costs down next season, making them especially wary of luxury tax implications. As a result, Boston will not use the available mid-level exception of $4.95 million. So, director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and his staff will watch to see where the big names go for the big money. Then, the Celtics will court players who fit their needs for far less cash in an effort to fill out what likely will be a 13-man roster.

According to Ainge, Boston either will sign free agents to veteran minimum contracts or work out sign-and-trade deals. But given the Celtics' proactive pursuit of Marcus Banks on draft night, it's clear Ainge will work the phones to get a player the team can use.

''Sitting back is not my style,'' said Ainge. ''Since 10 o'clock where I'm at right now in Utah, I've been on the phone all day long with different teams and my own staff. We've been talking a lot, going through all the different options that we've already gone through over and over again. But teams are starting to talk sign-and-trade.

''There's a lot of possibilities right now. I'm preparing for different things. There's some free agents that I like, but we're not in the ballpark for the big-name free agents, unfortunately.