FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

The NBA draft is next week and the rumors about the Celtics are flying around like basketballs in pregame warmups.

Will 34-year-old Ray Allen, with one year left on a contract, be traded?

Will Rajon Rondo be moved, as talented as he is, the Celtics afraid he’s going to want superstar money when his contract is up in two years and not wanting to give it to him?

These are two of the strongest rumors, at least around here, and they stem from the theory that Danny Ainge saw what happened to the 1980s Celtics when the first Big Three grew old together, and wants to prevent it from happening again.

So if Ainge believes the Celtics have a good chance of winning another title next year, expect nothing to happen. If he doesn’t, anything’s possible, for Ainge has shown in the past that he’s not afraid of blowing things up.

*** Going into Friday night, A-Rod was hitting .212, and was 4-for-his-last-39, in case it slipped by you.

*** Where’s his cousin when he needs him, right?

*** Twelve percent unemployment in this state is a disgrace.

*** It was always Lamar Odom’s destiny to play in big games on big stages and win big trophies, ever since he first showed up in Kingston in the fall of 1997.

*** Kobe has grown up, and this Lakers’ title is testimony to it.

*** Quiz of the Week: In Forbes.com’s list of the 20 highest-paid athletes in the world there is one Boston athlete on the list. Who is it? (Answer near the bottom of the column.)

*** Line of the Week comes from new Jets’ coach Rex Ryan from a couple of weeks back: “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings.’’

*** Line of the Week II comes from the late Angelo Pazienza in the new book Fight Or Die: “A Providence guy is someone who will follow you into a revolving door and come out ahead.’’

*** Sounds like the General Assembly to me.

*** NBA coaches shouldn’t allow themselves to be “wired,’’ for it destroys the illusion that they have any special secrets.

*** Ned Martin was the best Red Sox announcer in my lifetime.

*** There was a story on Jimmy Baron in last Saturday’s New York Post, with Knicks’ general manager Donnie Walsh, among others, saying he has an NBA skill.

*** Once “anti-war’’ and “pro-war’’ tore this country apart. Now it’s liberals and conservatives who can’t seem to find any common ground.

*** This from Friday’s New York Times: The women’s swim team at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania had a “virtual” swim meet with Bryn Mawr, 112 miles away, each team swimming in its own pool, then comparing times to determine the winners.

*** Say it ain’t Sosa?

*** Brad Penny was a great acquisition, regardless of where he finishes the year.

*** The last time this happened, at least there was an ark, right?

*** Sidney Crosby not shaking hands with the Red Wings is much ado about nothing.

*** Derek Fisher isn’t close to being a classic point guard, but he fits in with the Lakers and he can hit big shots.

*** I ’ve never been a big Phil Mickelson fan, but I hope he wins this Open.

*** Growing Up Italian, by Ed Iannuccilli, is a wonderful evocation of growing up in Rhode Island in a certain time and place.

*** I’ll believe Phil Jackson is the best coach in NBA history when he wins with a mediocre team.

*** Or maybe goes to a low major college team and wins with that.

*** The word is Rondo is a difficult personality.

*** You’ve got to love Jonathan Papelbon, who told the Herald the other day that he would consider going anywhere when his contract’s up, including you-know-where.

*** The Hangover is likable enough and not without some laughs, but the number-one movie in the country? Wow.

*** Baseball is better with Pedro in it, and here’s hoping some team gets him out from under that mango tree in the Dominican.

*** LeBron needs more talent around him, pure and simple.

*** Y ou’ve sent too much time in Rhode Island if you remember when the four downtown theaters were Loew’s State, the Strand, the Majestic, and the Albee.

*** The U.S. Open should be played on a difficult course, and Bethpage Black is perfect.

*** All the best to Roger Grillo, one of the all-time good guys, who has stepped down as the Brown hockey coach.

*** The promos for the new movie Year One during the NBA Finals were inane.

*** Quiz Answer: Kevin Garnett, tied for 17th.

*** Lindsay Lohan looks like a walking cry for help.

*** Sing no sad songs for Kevin McHale. He got his chance, and had it for a long time.

*** Yaz’ grandson, Mike, a senior at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., was taken in the 37th round by the Red Sox.

*** The old basketball cliché says live by the jump shot, die by it, too. The Magic gave us another reminder.

*** Let’s see: If you’re going north, you get in the right lanes going west over the Washington Bridge. And if you’re going south, you get in the left lanes. It’s not rocket science, Bunky.