Bill Walker / Getty Images" class="imgcaption floatr" style="float: right;" />Your World Champion Boston Celtics (man it is fun writing that) entered the 08 NBA Draft a lot differently than what they went through just one year ago. In 2007, Celtics fans were trying to overcome the bad-bounce-of-the-lottery-balls-again headache hangover…this year, a 17th Banner "it was all worth it" hangover. The C’s took a gamble selecting JR Giddens with the 30th pick of the Draft, and another chance on trading for Kansas St’s Bill Walker in Round 2. Both players have a ton of potential and should have been much higher picks without their respective baggage. It has been reported that Giddens hasn’t been the best teammate and his been involved in off the court problems. Supposedly, he has grown up a lot in the past year. Walker was a lottery pick coming out of high school, but knee injuries have scared many NBA teams off. The Walker pick can be somewhat compared to the Leon Powe pick for the C’s in 2006, and that seemed to work out pretty well.

If Giddens can grow up a bit more, which should be easier with the Celtics veteran team, he could step in fairly soon and be a contributor off the bench. He is 23 years-old, which means he his older than Glen Davis, Gabe Pruitt, and Rajon Rondo. You really can’t say enough for what 4 years of school does for rookies.

Check out Comcast SportsNet’s exclusive interview with NBA Executive of the Year Danny Ainge with Greg Dickerson on draft night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

See what Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers has to say about the newest Celtics as he speaks to the media at the Garden on NBA Draft Night.