The NBA annual free agent period starts this week, and Danny Ainge - the expiring contract of Theo Ratliff in hand - will be in the middle of the scrum, attempting to add one more veteran to his beleaguered team.

As evidenced by the Draft Night trade for Ray Allen, the Celtics  are serious about their desire to be major offseason players.

They probably don't have enough to work a sign-and-trade deal for Chauncey Billups, who may end up re-signing with Detroit anyway.

After parting with the No. 5 pick, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak to land Allen, the Celtics may not even have enough to make a deal work for a quality minor star like Charlotte's Gerald Wallace.