The Celtics announced big changes in their front office today. Danny Ainge will step down as general manager and President of Basketball Operations, and Brad Stevens will leave his post as head coach to fill the role. He will help lead the search for the new head coach of the Boston Celtics starting immediately.
Wyc Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca, Ainge, and Stevens held a press conference day to announce the changes and take questions from the media. The group answered questions ranging from why Ainge decided to step down to why Stevens was the right choice for the job.
All four men gave statements on the move as well. Grousbeck and Pagliuca talked about Ainge and Stevens and what they both mean to the organization. They also reflected on the past 18 years with Ainge at the head of the franchise.
Ainge spoke about his decision to step down and the reasoning behind it. He was clearly emotional when talking about what the Celtics mean to him. He said the decision began to linger in his mind when he began to have health issues a couple of years ago, including suffering a heart attack.
Stevens also talked about how excited he is for the challenge ahead. He expressed his loyalty to the Celtics and what the organization means to him and his family.
