A familiar face comes home

In a press conference Saturday before game 3 of their playoff series with the Nets, the Boston Celtics announced they had hired Danny Ainge as Executive Director of Basketball Operations.

As Ainge entered the Fleet Center on the heels of Red Auerbach before the game, the crowd rose to give him a tremendous ovation. Welcome home Danny Ainge.

Ainge, who starred on two Celtic championships (including their last in 1986), is a long time favorite of Auerbach.

Auerbach had rescued Ainge from the throes of a mediocre pro baseball career in which he hit .220 for three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

"In the tradition of the Celtics family, its a coup to get this guy," said Auerbach.

Ainge has worn many hats since his playing days with the Celtics. He was traded to the Portland Trailblazers late in the 1988/89 season. He later played for the Phoenix Suns. He has been an assistant coach, and a head coach in the NBA with the Blazers. For the last three years he has been providing color commentary for TNT's basketball games.

Ainge inherits a team that has a long way to go before challenging for the heights reached he reached in Boston as a player. The team is strapped by the salary cap, due in large part to the trade for Vin Baker over the winter. Baker, currently suspended by the Celtics, is due big money for the next two years.

One thing is for sure. Ainge will tell it like it is. He pulled no punches about the job he has in front of him. In an interview on TNT with his former associates on their pre-game show, Ainge said he believed the Celts of the past two years were over achievers, who were no better than a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. He called his new challenge a "tough road."

The challenges include, how to resolve the Baker situation, where to get a true point guard, and to find a big man to complement the outside game. Given the salary cap dilemma, a "tough road" may be an understatement. For Celtics' fans, the Eastern Conference semifinals is not the definition of success. Nothing less than a championship will do in Boston. Have patience Beantowners, it will not happen overnight.

The timing of the announcement has drawn some criticism, with the team still alive (although barely) in the playoffs. Ainge himself said it "was not ideal." He then added, "Players don't care about this stuff. They're getting ready. I think this has been a zero distraction."

New owners Steve Pagluca and Wyc Grousbeck did not want to wait because there are a number of GM positions available in the NBA, including Portland, and Washington, and Ainge has said he would only leave the broadcast booth to run an organization.

Ainge may or may not bring the Celtics back to glory. If he does, it will take time. It will not be boring, however. A lot depends on whether the new owners will give him the tools he needs and the autonomy to do what he believes.

Celtics' fans now have one of their own with the final say in all basketball matters. It's about time.