But the Celts still get to utter a quick ``damn'' whenever they see Danny Granger tearing it up for Indiana. President of Basketball operations Danny Ainge and his staff were about to haul in the 6-foot-8 forward out of New Mexico in the first round of the 2005 draft.

But the Pacers stepped in front of them at the last moment and picked off the guy who's now the leader of their team with the 17th overall selection.

At No. 18, the Celtics collected Gerald Green, who showed some flashes and has done pretty well this year for Dallas after getting pretty much jettisoned from Minnesota and Houston. But Green is no Granger.

``In the draft he was the pick in front of us,'' Doc Rivers said of Granger. ``I can (tell) you that, because we were cheering his falling toward us and he never made it to us. We were extremely excited. Coaches don't see a lot of players, but I had seen him a couple of times (in college games) and I loved that he was falling toward us. Of course, we were happy with either guy, but it would have been really nice. He reminds us of a cross between (the Orlando Magic's Hedo) Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis.''

Green, meanwhile, looked like a cross between fellow dunk contest champions Harold Miner and Dee Brown when he was sent away by the Celts.

Granger is making the people who passed him over look foolish. He had hoped to go higher in the draft, and because of that he didn't even work out for the Celtics.

``I wasn't (aware of their interest),'' Granger said when asked if he knew of the C's desire to take him in '05. ``I thought I was going to go sooner than I did, but I had a knee problem and a lot of teams red-flagged me. I didn't know they were interested.''

By now, Granger has heard all the explanations.

``I had a bad knee. I was in between positions,'' he said. ``You know, it was the draft. A bunch of stuff was being thrown out there.''

Pierce, who has worked out with Granger in the offseason, is one of the Pacer's biggest supporters.

``I think he's one of the better forwards in the East,'' Pierce said. ``I think he could easily make the All-Star team.''

If Granger does make the All-Star team, he can thank Pierce for a more perfect smile when it comes time for a photo op. The C's captain knocked his friend into the floor when the teams met in Indiana last month, leaving Granger with some veneer work for his two top front teeth.

``I took the ball from Paul and he (dived) on top of me trying to get it,'' Granger said. ``It was just a Basketball play. He came down and unfortunately I had my mouth open, and my two front teeth went into the floor and broke off.''

The Celtics just wish the incident had occurred at one of their practices.

- sbulpett@bostonherald.com