Boston Celtics hire Ainge as head of basketball operations

["Hastings, David" <David.Hastings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Boston Celtics hire Ainge as head of basketball operations 
By Howard Ulman, Associated Press, 5/9/2003 12:56 
BOSTON (AP) Danny Ainge will be the new head of basketball operations for
the Boston Celtics. 
Coach Jim O'Brien confirmed the hire Friday as the team prepared for Game 3
against the New Jersey Nets. Ainge played on two championship teams with the
Celtics and later coached the Phoenix Suns. 
''It is going to be nothing but an absolute positive for our ball team,''
O'Brien said. ''To have a former Celtic like Danny come and take over is
going to be nothing but an absolute positive for our ball team. We are
thrilled and look forward to him helping us win a championship in the
future.'' 
The team called a news conference Friday afternoon to announced the move. 
Ainge has been an NBA television analyst this season for TNT. The former
guard played for the Celtics from 1981-89 and was on championship teams in
1984 and 1986. 
Speculation he would return to the Celtics intensified in recent days as
Ainge confirmed Thursday he had two one-hour meetings with the new owners of
the Boston Celtics. 
Chris Wallace is the current general manager and head of basketball
operations. Former coach Red Auerbach is the team president. 
The news conference will come a few hours before the Celtics play the Nets
in their first home game of the playoff series. 
The 44-year-old Ainge knows Steve Pagliuca, part of the ownership group that
bought the team this season from Paul Gaston. Wyc Grousbeck, the team's
chief executive and managing partner, refused to comment. 
Ainge and Brad Lohaus were traded to Sacramento in 1989 for Joe Kleine and
Ed Pinckney. Ainge later played for Portland and finished his career with
Phoenix. 
He coached the Suns from 1996-99. 


          --
David Hastings
Amdocs Post Team
Phone: 678 406 2253



*****
"The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain confidential, proprietary, and/or
privileged material.  Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use
of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.  If you received
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all
computers."