Celtics give extensions to Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens
The Boston Celtics have given extensions to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Brad Stevens, the team announced Wednesday.
"Danny and Brad represent exactly what the Boston Celtics stand for: excellence on and off the court," Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a statement. "With their long-term deals in place, we are continuing to build towards competing for Banner 18. Our ownership group thanks them for their hard work and their re-commitment to the Celtics."
Terms were not released.
Stevens, who completed his third season as head coach, signed a six-year contract in July 2013. Ainge has often said in recent years that he'd give Stevens a new deal if he could and evidently wasn't joking.
"My family and I were thrilled to have been approached with this contract extension," Stevens said in the team's statement. "We sincerely appreciate the empowering leadership of our ownership and front office, the opportunity to work alongside such a talented staff, the support of our tremendous fans, and of course the commitment and hard work of the players wearing this jersey. It's an honor to be a member of the Boston Celtics and we'll continue striving for growth in pursuit of Banner 18."
Ainge, who completed his 13th season, has helped the team post a 565-484 (.539) record during his tenure as president of basketball operations. The team has made 10 trips to the postseason, competed in three Eastern Conference finals, and won the 2008 NBA title during that span.
"I am grateful to continue to work in an environment where I'm surrounded by so many people that are an integral part of our success," Ainge said in the statement. "We have had great stability in this organization since the ownership group bought the Celtics. We know our strengths and weaknesses and as a group we work well together. [Owners] Wyc, Irv [Grousbeck], [and] Steve [Pagliuca], [team president] Rich [Gotham], Brad and I have a common goal in pursuing Banner 18 and I'm looking forward to this next chapter in Boston Celtics history."
Since being eliminated from the playoffs, the Celtics have announced plans for a pristine new training facility and extended their coach and general manager. That essentially completes the groundwork for free agency in July, creating stability at the top of the organization and showing that the team is committed to equipping its players with the amenities necessary to best compete for a title.
The Celtics won 48 games this past season and challenged for a top spot in the Eastern Conference. Boston has eight picks in this month's draft, including three first-round selections headlined by the No. 3 pick (delivered from the Brooklyn Nets). Boston, with an intriguing young core signed to team-frinedly deals, also has the cap space flexibility this summer to pursue two max-contract free agents.
In a letter to season ticket holders announcing the contract extensions, Grousbeck wrote, "With the commitment to success that Danny and Brad have displayed through their contract extensions, a talented core of players, and a multitude of draft picks over the next few years, we are well positioned as we work tirelessly to raise our next banner together."
