Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics is considering stepping down from his position with the Boston Celtics. He has been the General Manager for the Celtics for nearly 20 years but came under heavy criticism this season as the team failed to meet expectations.
This move would likely not lead to retirement. Sources say he would likely look for another position elsewhere in the league. The Utah Jazz are a potential landing spot for him. Furthermore, Wojnarowski says that Ainge has been considering this choice for months and was in talks with the organization throughout his decision.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Brad Stevens will be transitioning into the Head of Basketball Operations. As a result, the Celtics will immediately begin a search for a new head coach. This news surrounding Brad Stevens confirms Danny Ainge’s choice to step down.
Danny Ainge has played a crucial role in the success of the Celtics over the past decades. In the summer of 2007, he swung some big trades to put together the 2008 championship team for the Celtics. A few years later, he made the infamous trade with the Nets. Flipping some aging stars for a bunch of first-round picks, securing the Celtics’ future. Most recently, he’s taken Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in the draft and built a strong young core for the Celtics.
This year the Celtics were hoping to be contenders in the east. They ended up struggling all year and finishing in the 7th seed. Many looked to a weak roster surrounding their stars as one of the issues. Because of this, a big spotlight was on Ainge and the front office all season long, which is likely contributing to this decision by Ainge.
