He played in the Portsmouth Invitational, which features the top college seniors, though he wasn't invited to the NBA predraft camp in Chicago last week. ``Of course I was disappointed,'' Rice said. ``But I don't have time to have a grudge. I got to be ready.'' Rice has worked out for Toronto, Oklahoma City, Houston, Miami, and Chicago and has upcoming workouts with Sacramento, Indiana, Utah, Denver, and Cleveland. Between workouts, he has been in Los Angeles honing his skills with former NBA player Don MacLean. Rice believes he has impressed teams with his workouts. ``They've been real good,'' Rice said. ``I've got good feedback. Every GM said I was either late first or second during the workout. I think I'm definitely rising.'' There probably isn't a team that knows more about Rice than the Celtics , who have the 57th pick. Rice's agent, Aaron Mintz, said he talked to the Celtics in Chicago but no workout has been scheduled. While Rice hopes to get drafted a lot earlier, he wouldn't mind playing for Boston. ``If I end up in Boston, it would be good,'' Rice said. ``I know the area. I know the people there. I could contribute to the team right away.'' Said Celtics president Danny Ainge, ``He's had a great college career in one of the best conferences. I think he has a chance.''

First things

As it stands, the Celtics will be without a first-round pick for the first time since 2002. It may not be such a bad thing, since this isn't expected to be a stellar draft and the Celtics have luxury-tax concerns. Even so, would they be interested in trading into the first round? ``We're still evaluating that,'' Ainge said. ``There are still some good players in this draft. I don't know. I don't know if we want to or we can.''

A hard look at Rondo

When the NBA Competition Committee met last Wednesday in Chicago, it looked at video of all the flagrant fouls and controversial plays during the playoffs so far. The one that received the most attention was Celtics guard Rajon Rondo's hard foul across the face of the Bulls' Brad Miller during the first round. Rondo knocked out one of Miller's teeth and left him dazed. The NBA decided the next day that it wasn't a flagrant foul because Rondo showed intent to go for the ball and didn't follow through with his swing. ``The Rondo play was the one that was discussed the most,'' said Ainge, who attended the meeting. ``Half thought it was a flagrant, half thought it wasn't.''

Free throws

Free agent guard Stephon Marbury displayed his interest in re-signing with the Celtics by keeping his Waltham apartment near the practice facility. He was at the facility, shooting, a day after the team's season ended. Swingman J.R. Giddens also stayed in town and is doing two-a-day workouts in Waltham. Giddens is hoping to impress the Celtics during the summer league after spending most of last season in the Development League . . . Keep an eye on Southern Cal forward Taj Gibson, who was measured at 6-10 with a 7-3 wingspan by three teams in Chicago and showed an ability to hit the mid-range jumper. Other interesting measurements from the predraft camp: Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet was 7-2 1/2 with shoes with a 7-6 1/4 wingspan and 9-5 standing reach. Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin was 6-10 with shoes, 6-11 1/2 wingspan, and 8-9 standing reach. Memphis combo guard Tyreke Evans was 6-5 1/4 with shoes with a 6-11 1/2 wingspan and 8-8 standing reach. Davidson guard Stephen Curry was 6-2 with shoes. UConn forward Jeff Adrien and Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair were both 6-6 1/2 with shoes with a 7-2 wingspan. North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough was 6-11 1/2 with shoes with a 8-10 wingspan.