The first domino of what is shaping up to be a very busy offseason for the Celtics has fallen.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz are hiring Celtics assistant general manager Austin Ainge as their next President of Basketball Operations. Ainge was named Boston’s director of player personnel in 2011, before being promoted to assistant general manager, a role he has held for the last six seasons. Before that, he served as the head coach of the G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics (formerly the Red Claws), for two seasons.
Ainge is the son of Utah Jazz Alternate Governor and CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, who served as Boston’s President of Basketball Operations for 18 years before stepping down in 2021. During his tenure, the Celtics made 15 playoff appearances, including seven conference finals and two NBA Finals, winning it all in 2008. The hire reunites father and son in the Beehive State after more than a decade working together in Boston.
“We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said. “He’s clearly ready for this next step, and I know how much he’s looking forward to leading a team. He’s obviously very bright and has experienced success as a player, coach, and executive at various levels of the game. On top of that, he leaves no stone unturned – he’s a strategic thinker that’s motivated and is an extremely hard worker. We will miss him in Boston, but could not be happier for Austin and his family.“
The younger Ainge, 43, who played a significant role in the Celtics’ scouting and draft efforts over the past decade and a half, is the second front office executive Boston has lost in recent months. In March, Remy Cofield was hired as deputy athletics director and general manager at the University of Arkansas. Cofield joined the Celtics in 2013 and held various roles—including basketball operations assistant, scout, general manager of the Maine Red Claws, and, most recently, director of scouting since 2020.
The Celtics have found consistent success in the Draft and player development in recent years. Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet, both current rotation players, spent time in Maine. Payton Pritchard was selected 26th overall. Robert Williams went 27th, Grant Williams 22nd, and Baylor Scheierman—who showed promise last season—was taken 30th.
As the Celtics look to shed salary—facing an unprecedented $280 million luxury tax bill, what would be the first $500 million roster in league history, and needing to cut nearly $20 million to get under the second apron—drafting and player development will be even more crucial, making the losses of Ainge and Cofield all the more significant.
The Celtics hold the 28th and 32nd picks in the Draft, which will take place on June 25 and 26. Brad Stevens, who’s only made one first-round pick as President of Basketball Operations—selecting Scheierman last year—said he’s open to trading up, trading down, or staying put, but doesn’t expect “fireworks.”
“I think generally, one of the concerns with the new CBA was it might limit trade activity or movement, and I don’t know,” Stevens said. “I don’t think, necessarily even big-picture, that’s the case. I think there are no specifics at all. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see movement continue to happen across the league. But as far as us and moving up to those levels in the Draft, I would guess that that is probably not a thing.”