Danny Ainge: Celtics have a job for Kevin McHale
Former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale won't be out of a job for very long.
Head coaches around the league have rushed to support the recent deposed McHale, and Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge even offered the 57-year-old a job.
"I told Kevin that (yesterday)," Ainge told Steve Bullpet of the Boston Herald. "We’ve got a spot for him. I know we could figure something out for him in some capacity, but I think he’s just in a wait and see mode."
According to Ainge, McHale, a free agent as of only Wednesday morning, will apparently take some time before making his next move.
"He appreciated me reaching out to him, but I think he’s just going to lay low. He’s probably got bigger and better things to do - or more relaxing things to do," Ainge said.
McHale and Ainge are deeply entrenched in Celtics lore. They played together in Boston for eight seasons in the 1980s, and won three championships as part of the famed Larry Bird-led Celtics squads.
After retirement, the two teammates both moved into front-office roles. Ainge quickly rose to prominence in the Celtics organization, while McHale joined his hometown Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant, eventually earning the title of general manager.
As executives, the two conspired to make the Kevin Garnett trade in 2007, which sparked a rebuild in Minnesota, and helped the Celtics to a championship in 2008.
After a decade in the front office, McHale transitioned into coaching. He coached the Timberwolves for one season before latching on with the Rockets in 2011.
Given McHale's friendship with Ainge, and his wealth of experience, it's understandable why the Celtics would wish to reunite with their Hall of Fame center. They're set at head coach with a rising star in Brad Stevens, but as Ainge said, they'll find a place in the organization for their former number 32.
"I send my best to Kevin and wish him nothing but the best, and he’ll be coaching again when he wants to be because he’s a really good coach," Ainge said of his friend.
- With h/t to Eye on Basketball