The director of basketball operations says he's "grateful" that the team's management sees "the big picture" after signing a three-year contract extension.

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, May 21, 2005

BY CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writer

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The owners of the Boston Celtics are aware that their team is probably a ways away from hanging a 17th NBA Championship banner from the FleetCenter rafters.

But they also feel that the club has begun taking steps toward that end with Danny Ainge running the show and would like to give him a chance to continue moving in that direction.

The Celtics announced yesterday that they have agreed to a three-year contract extension with their executive director of basketball operations, which will keep Ainge on board through the 2008-09 season. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

"Danny has proven to our satisfaction that he wants to be here, that he wants to do everything he possibly can to build our way to another championship some day," Celtics managing partner and CEO Wyc Grousbeck said yesterday at a news conference held at the team's practice facility. "He's taken steps to attract a very talented group of young players. He's attracted a winning coach with Doc Rivers, a fabulous coach, and he's brought our excitement level and the fans' excitement level back to the Celtics. Danny's a winner, and we're glad that he will be here for many years to come."

The Celtics were prepared to offer Ainge an extension last year, shortly after Rivers was appointed the head coach on April 29.

Ainge insists that he didn't reject the offer last spring, but suggested that it was a bit premature.

"I felt that it was just too early to evaluate," he said. "I was going through my first year of a full draft. They had just hired Doc Rivers, and I felt that it was more out of Wyc being kind and maybe thinking that I might have some sort of feeling like, 'Well, what about me instead of Doc?' And I wanted to make sure that it was working -- that Doc was working and I was working and we could all work together. And now it's the right time."

When Ainge and the owners revisited the issue this week, they say negotiations took all of 3 minutes.

"I'm grateful that their memories aren't too short that they are able to see the big picture and what we're trying to accomplish and not dwell on the 30-point loss in Game 7," said Ainge, referring to Boston's season-ending setback to the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the playoffs earlier this month. "It's still painful in all of our minds. But there's a lot more positive things going on, and it's good that they can see that. We're nowhere near to having our work complete, and they're giving us a real opportunity to develop into a championship-caliber ball club. And those are still our same goals."

While the drastic changes Ainge made in his first year at the helm left many in Celtics nation wondering just what his so-called vision for the team might be, the owners insist they never lost faith in his ability to turn things around, saying it is important to maintain "a long-term view" and pointing to the strides Boston made in this second season under his guidance as evidence.

"We probably all needed to be reassured last year when our coach (Jim O'Brien) left and we were swept in the first round of the playoffs," said Grousbeck. "We all looked around and did a gut check and said, 'Who should be here? Who should be coaching? Who should we draft? Who should our players be? Danny really turned the roster over when he got here because it wasn't a championship roster. He made a lot of moves, but I've never wavered in my personal feeling about his aptitude and his work ethic. And I think he's taken a step. I don't think he's taken 10 steps, but I think he's taken a step forward with the coach and the (Atlantic Division Championship) and the young kids. So I'm really genuinely happy with those. Give him four more years and let him take some more steps."

Ainge's extension, combined with the four-year deal Rivers signed last April, will ensure that the two remain here together through the 2007-08 season, which the owners say was an important consideration. (Rivers reportedly has the option to cancel his contract if Ainge were to step down.)

"It's going to pay dividends to have just a consistent group at the top running the organization, the basketball side," said Celtics managing partner Steve Pagliuca. "As you know, Danny and Doc go back a long way, had a great relationship before coming here, have a great relationship while they're here, and I think that really helps with player management -- the strategy -- when everybody's on the same page. This is truly a great team working together. It's been great to watch them."