The NBA season is young, and so is Joseph Forte?s professional basketball career.

But 16 games into the Boston Celtics? schedule, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Forte made a monumental miscalculation by leaving North Carolina after his second season.

The surprising Celtics (11-7 before Tuesday night?s game at New York) put the rookie guard back on the injured list Wednesday, the latest indication that Forte faces a long and frustrating quest to become a successful NBA player.

Many first-year players struggle, of course. Only a few ? Memphis? Shane Battier and Pau Gasol, Boston?s Joe Johnson, San Antonio?s Tony Parker and Orlando?s Steven Hunter ? have made relatively smooth transitions this season.

Forte, who was picked 21st in the first round, has been bothered by an ankle injury and played briefly in only two games, scoring two points on a pair of free throws.

The money is good ? Forte is assured of at least $2.53 million by the end of the 2004 season ? but his future is not promising. A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Forte is faced with the most troublesome of all NBA on-court dilemmas. He?s a man without a position ? too small for an NBA wing player and totally unprepared to be a point guard.