Ainge Situation To Be Decided By Saturday

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ainge could return

by Steve Bulpett
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Boston Herald


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Celtics are trying to woo Danny Ainge to
head their basketball operation, but Ainge said last night the job has
yet to be formally offered to him.

  Sources said the two sides will speak when Ainge is in Boston to work
Game 3 of the Celtics-Nets series for TNT, and the team will then make a
more formal presentation. The matter will almost certainly be decided
one way or the other by the time Ainge leaves for his Phoenix home on
Saturday.

``Things could move very quickly here,'' said a league source.

Ainge has been talking with the Celtics informally for weeks, and
inroads were made because the former Celt has known new co-owner Steve
Pagliuca for some 16 years. Pagliuca, who has served with Ainge on the
board of the Forever Young Foundation, a charity that benefits youth
organizations, has had at least three conversations with Ainge regarding
his interest in working for the club for which he played eight seasons
in the '80s.

The two spent time talking at a foundation golf tournament two weeks ago
in Phoenix, and they spoke again here last night as the Celtics met the
Nets in Game 2 of their playoff series. Ainge was a color commentator
for TNT on the Celtics' 104-95 loss. ``We've talked about the Celtics
and what the team needs, things like that,'' said Ainge. ``Steve and I
have talked about the possibility of me being involved with the team,
but that's all it's been so far. Nothing has been offered.''

Sources added that general manager Chris Wallace, now in Barcelona to
scout the European final four, would be safe under any new arrangement
that included Ainge. Wallace signed a three-year contract extension in
the last offseason that kicks in next year.

As for Ainge, he has privately expressed interest in being involved
again with a team. He coached parts of four seasons with the Suns before
resigning 20 games into the 1999-2000 season, ending his last direct
work in the game.

Among the issues he must face would be a move from Phoenix, where he and
his family have settled.

``That's definitely a factor,'' Ainge said last night. ``Absolutely.''

Ainge was a member of two championship teams with the Celtics and played
in the 1988 All-Star Game. He averaged 11.3 points in his Boston career
before being traded to Sacramento in February of 1989.