BOSTON – Jared Sullinger had back problems. Fab Melo’s troubles came in the classroom. The Boston Celtics hope the two big men they drafted Thursday night will help fix some of their issues on the court.

At their best, Sullinger was a productive scorer from the inside and the perimeter for Ohio State, and Melo was an outstanding defender who blocked 10 shots in one game last season for Syracuse.

“We think this draft kind of fell almost perfectly for us because we got guys we consider potential starters down the road at the power forward and center position,” Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough said.

“By all accounts, they’re good kids and hard workers.”

In the second round, the Celtics drafted another Syracuse product, selecting power forward Kris Joseph.

With free agent Kevin Garnett contemplating retirement, the two first-round picks may have to be quick studies and make a speedy transition to the NBA.

“We’ll get both of them next week,” Boston Coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re going to two summer leagues because we anticipated that we’re going to have a lot of work with our young guys.”

Last year’s draft picks, forward JaJuan Johnson and guard E’Twuan Moore, played sparingly as rookies from Purdue.

Sullinger, taken with the 21st pick, and Melo, chosen 22nd, are better known nationally than last year’s choices. They met in the Elite Eight on the Celtics’ home court this year with Ohio State winning 77-70 — behind 19 points and seven rebounds from Sullinger — before falling to Kansas 64-62 in the NCAA semifinals.

The 6-foot-9, 280-pound Sullinger, projected as a lottery pick before the season, averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds as a sophomore. But his draft stock had fallen, in part because of concerns about back problems.

“All the doctors we talked to cleared him,” said Rivers, who was at the draft in Newark, N.J. with his son, Duke guard Austin Rivers, who was taken 10th by New Orleans. “I’m hoping that the projections of him before the season are right.”

The 7-foot, 255-pound Melo led Syracuse with 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game while averaging 7.8 points per game last season, but missed the NCAA tournament because of academic issues. He played sparingly as a freshman but was named Big East defensive player of the year as a sophomore.

“We have to teach him the Celtics way,” Rivers said. “We have to teach him how to work and understanding playing as a winner. There’s a lot of work that has to be done, but I love starting with size and potential. He has both of those things and if he has great character, then we have a chance.

“For us to get a 7-footer at that pick is a good pick for us.”

Boston obtained the 22nd pick in the trade that sent center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City in 2010-11. Rivers said the Celtics were interested in trading the two picks for a higher one but “for any of the guys we had interest (in), we couldn’t even come close.”

The Celtics have just four players under contract — forwards Paul Pierce and Johnson, and guards Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley. Their top unrestricted free agents are Garnett, Ray Allen, Brandon Bass and backup forward Mickael Pietrus.

General Manager Danny Ainge said Garnett is deciding between returning and retiring.

 

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