Key Boston Celtics executive explains departing for Jazz front office

While the Celtics enter an important offseason as an organization, the front office will see a big change. Key Celtics executive Austin Ainge is departing to become the Jazz’s president of basketball operations. Ainge was previously an assistant general manager with the Celtics, having been with the organization since 2011.

Austin Ainge now gets a chance to work alongside his father, Danny Ainge, the current CEO of basketball operations in Utah. Austin explained his thought process of joining the Jazz as the team announced the hiring Monday.

“This is an incredible opportunity to lead Utah Jazz basketball operations,” Austin Ainge said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more excited about the bright future of this organization. I look forward to partnering with Ryan and Ashley Smith and our other leaders within the Utah Jazz and will utilize my experience over the last 17 years building a championship-caliber organization. I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win. I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up.”

The Jazz are coming off a 17-65 season as they’re also at a crucial point themselves in the middle of a rebuild. They have some nice pieces, the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 draft and more draft assets going forward. Austin Ainge will be a part of those discussions now as the Jazz take steps toward competitiveness.

The Utah and Boston connection also got another named added to the list. Danny Ainge stepped down as Celtics president of basketball operations in the summer of 2021 after spending 18 years in Boston. He joined the Jazz in December 2021 as CEO, leading the organization ever since.

The Jazz also hired former Celtics top assistant Will Hardy as head coach back in the summer of 2022. Hardy has put together an 85-161 record in his first three seasons in Utah, guiding the team through a rebuild. Hardy, 37, got a multiyear extension last month as he’s considered one of the top young minds in the game.

“We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz,” Celtics president Brad Stevens said in a statement. “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.“