On this day in Boston Celtics history, onetime Team President and shooting guard Danny Ainge was hired by the franchise in 2003 in his present capacity. Ainge replaced outgoing President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace, who had been with the team in that role since replacing Rick Pitino in 2001.
Ainge had a successful tenure as President of Basketball Operations, winning a title in the 2007-08 NBA season, and making an NBA Finals appearance two seasons later in 2010. His ability to seemingly always get the best of a deal has earned him the moniker “Trader Danny”, ranging from acquiring the contracts of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to forge the team that won Banner 17.
Perhaps his best-known trade was moving Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 which netted what would prove to be one of the most uneven returns in league history.
Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, left, hugs managing partner Wyc Grousbeck, center, as Ray Allen looks on after the Celtics won the 2008 NBA basketball championship with a 131-92 Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Ainge would step down as team president in the 2021 offseason after several tough seasons in terms of both an ongoing pandemic and personal health, having suffered a heart attack two years earlier.
He has since found a similar position (if lighter load) working with the Utah Jazz.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
It is also former Celtic big man Marcus Webb’s birthday, who was born in 1970 on this date in Montgomery, Alabama.
Webb came to the Celtics as an undrafted player out of Alabama and played nine games for the team in the 1992-93 NBA season after signing as a free agent in the summer of 1992.
He averaged 4.3 points and 1.1 rebounds while with the team.
May 9, 2010; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis (11) and forward Paul Pierce (34) work for the rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao (17) during the first half in game four of the eastern conference semifinals in the 2010 NBA playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
It is also the anniversary of two postseason wins for Boston since the season of their last championship in 2007-08. The first was a 97-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Boston was led by an absurd triple-double from point guard Rajon Rondo, who had 28 points, 18 boards, and 13 assists, with Ray Allen and Garnett adding 18 points each, the latter with 6 rebounds as well.
Boston Celtics forward Tony Allen drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams, right, and forward Antawn Jamison, left, during the second half of Game 4 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, May 9, 2010, in Boston. The Celtics won 97-87, tying the series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Reserve guard Tony Allen added 15 points and 5 rebounds off of the bench.
“I think it starts with Rondo. He’s kind of the engine that really gets them going,” LeBron James said via the Associated Press. “He does everything for them. His performance was unbelievable.”
Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) drives to the basket during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 114-112. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The second was a 114-112 squeaker, gritted out as the team eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of the 2018 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart put the Sixers away late nearly single-handedly, sinking a critical free throw and then blocking a late 3-pointer immediately afterward to seal the win.
Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) celebrates in front of the Philadelphia 76ers bench after Game 5 of an NBA basketball playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 114-112. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
“That’s a Marcus Smart sequence. That just describes him so well,” said shooting guard Jaylen Brown via the A.P. “If it came down to one guy coming up with it, everybody’s got their money on Smart.”
Brown, for his part, scored 24 points and swingman Jayson Tatum 25 more, with point guard Terry Rozier adding 17 points and 6 boards as Boston would advance to face the Cavs in the East Conference Finals for the second season in a row.
On this date, the Boston Celtics hired former player Danny Ainge as general manager, and Rajon Rondo went off for 28 points, 18 boards, and 13 assists vs. the Cavs.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire
