That's where Kevin Garnett, after a month of rehabilitation in Waltham, continues his comeback from knee surgery. The good news, according to Ainge, is that the Celtics forward ``should be 100 percent by the time we start training camp.''

The date for Garnett's return to the practice floor is a tad hazier.

``I don't have that date,'' said Ainge, the Celtics general manager. ``I'm actually meeting with my medical staff (today) to get some updates. But the last (update) I got before the weekend was that he's doing great.

``He was up here before the weekend and he just went home to LA, and we set him up with physical therapists and trainers. (Trainer) Ed Lacerte and (fitness coach) Bryan Doo will be out there visiting him during the summer.''

Ainge added that Leon Powe, recovering from more extreme knee surgery, is ``doing real well,'' but is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.

Earlier estimates had the impending free agent returning to action at midseason.

Yo, Adrien

Though there's a chance the Celtics won't hold on to their pick tomorrow night, it was curious that yesterday's workout focused on power forwards. Perhaps, strictly as an outside measure, the Celtics are preparing for the event Powe and Glen Davis (restricted free agency) don't return.

Yesterday's crop of bangers included Jeff Adrien (UConn and Brookline High), Robert Dozier (Memphis), Geoff McDermott (Providence) and Slava Kravstov (Ukraine).

The workout was particularly meaningful for Adrien, who grew up following the Rick Pitino era Celtics .

``Walter McCarty, with the whole `I love Walter thing,' '' said the 6-foot-6 Adrien. ``I followed Dana Barros. I remember watching Dino Radja and guys like Greg Minor. I remember when times were tough.''

One person Adrien doesn't appear to be worried about is his college coach, Jim Calhoun, who is recovering from his collapse following a charity bike ride. The UConn coach broke five ribs as a result of the fall.

``He's getting better,'' Adrien said. ``He's a fighter.''

Market watch

The Celtics' real offseason starts July 1, when contracts expire and free agency begins. Ainge has said the team will be a much bigger player in the free agent market this summer.

``We're not just going to go get anybody,'' he said. ``But there are some players that we would like to make a run at anyway.

``I think the free agent pool is fairly deep, but based on our needs it may not be so deep for us. We're certainly not going to go out and spend a mid-level exception on a point guard (or) on a wing player, probably. Although that's not impossible. Probably more like a big player, although there are some wing players out there we'd be thrilled to get.'' . . .

Though Tom Thibodeau hasn't signed a new contract, the Celtics associate coach was on hand to watch yesterday's workouts. . . . J.R. Giddens, one of the players who will headline the Celtics' summer league team in two weeks, stepped in for some post-workout shooting.

Read the Celtics Insider at bostonherald.com.