The Celtics are in the lottery this year and will be looking for immediate help, as their franchise player, Paul Pierce, isn't getting any younger.

?What I?d like to do is get somebody who can help us be better immediately,? said Danny Ainge. ?When you?re drafting in the top 10, traditionally you don?t look for guys for the future. You look for guys more for the now.

?But unless there are guys who are better than what we have right now - the Tony Allens and the Delonte Wests and Paul (Pierce) and Wally (Szczerbiak) and Perk (Kendrick Perkins) and Al (Jefferson) - then what?s the point of not taking the best players for the future of the franchise? That?s what we?re evaluating.?

In no way are Celtics coach Doc Rivers and director of basketball operations Danny Ainge saying that they are unhappy with Delonte West?s development as their starting point guard. They would still like to sign a veteran point guard like free agent Speedy Claxton or a tradable commodity like Charlotte?s Brevin Knight - who is more of a drive-and-dish type of playmaker.

The two-year veteran has been quietly unsettled by the news.

?My job is to play basketball,? West said. ?As far as bringing other guys in, that?s up to the guys upstairs. I understand that the biggest thing for everyone is to improve this team for next year.?

Danny Ainge once again made clear of his intention to begin discussions with Paul Pierce on an extension. Though Pierce has two years left on his contract, the second is a player option.

?Once the season is over, we?ll discuss that,? the director of basketball operations said. ?We?ll set up a time to meet and try to discuss it and get that done.?

Paul Pierce sat out on Sunday night due to an injured elbow. The Celtics lost to the Nets by a final score of 95-93.

Rookie Gerald Green started in Pierce's place.

The Boston Celtics announced today that Wally Szczerbiak had successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage at New England Baptist Hospital. The surgery was performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon.

Szczerbiak is expected to begin rehabilitation immediately under the medical staff's supervision.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers announced that the team has decided to shut down sophmore Al Jefferson for the remainder of the season, the Providence Journal is reporting.

"When I saw him limping around, high pain, I just wondered 'what are we doing?' " said Rivers.

Rivers said that when he told Jefferson he'd be best served to sit out the season's final six games, the Mississippi native didn't object.

"We didn't really talk about it but I told him I thought we should shut it down for him for the rest of the year and he didn't fight me on it," he said. "To me that kind of assured me it was the right decision."

Celtics forward Wally Szczerbiak will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday, effectively putting an end to his season, the Boston Globe is reporting.

''It started hurting more and this was the day off where we could schedule an MRI," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. ''I know a bone bruise showed on the MRI that we didn't foresee. The bone bruise made it more of an immediate need [to have surgery]. Finding out about it was disappointing. He was hoping not to have surgery. From what I hear, [Wally] is feeling OK about it.''

''Instead of holding out and playing at this point in the season, we decided he should have the surgery. Instead of him coming back to camp rehabbing, Wally should be fine by July. I hate it when you get through the season, then they look [at injuries]. Guys tend to procrastinate then and take their time [before having surgery]."

The Associated Press is reporting that, as rumored, the Houston Rockets have named David Morey as assistant general manager and he will take over as general manager of the team after the 2006-07 season.

He will work with Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson through the 2006-07 season before Dawson moves to senior consultant and Morey takes over for him.

"Daryl will be a great addition to our organization," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a release. "With the high level of competition in this league, you can never have too much information. If we combine the best information with our basketball people, we should be able to make the most informed and best decisions in the NBA. Daryl will be an important part of that process."

Morey spent the last three years as senior vice president of operations and information for the Boston Celtics. He worked for a strategy consulting firm and was a statistical consultant with STATS, Inc. before working for the Celtics.

"I am very excited to be joining Carroll Dawson and the first class basketball organization at the Rockets," Morey said in the release. "My base of experience provides another perspective toward the common goal of everyone who works for Carroll, winning a championship for the fans of Houston."

With Paul Pierce eligable to become an unrestricted free agent in 2007 if he exercises his player option, the Boston Celtics are planning on talking to Pierce this offseason about a contract extension, according to the Boston Herald.

And the good news for Celtics fans is, despite constant trade rumors surrounding him, Pierce plans to listen.

?Definitely, I want to talk about that,? he said. ?I know that?s a situation that?s coming up, but I probably won?t get much into that until the season?s over. It?s just good to know that a team wants you around for an extended period of time and wants to talk to me about it.?

?We?ve had our problems - things that are going to happen with a young team - but I definitely like where this team is headed,? he said. ?I like our young guys and I like the mix we have after the trade (with Minnesota).?

The Celtics are aware of how mixed up their mix would be if Pierce departs.

?It?s not just how great a player Paul is,? director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. ?You have to look and see how he?s developed as a leader and how the young guys look up to him and follow him.

?We just want Paul to stay around, and I?ll sit down with him and his agent this summer to talk about an extension.?