Boston Celtics now sole affiliate of Maine Red Claws
PORTLAND, Jun 21, 2012 (Menafn - Portland Press Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --The Boston Celtics now have sole control of the basketball operations of the Maine Red Claws.
The Celtics and Red Claws entered into a single-affiliation agreement this morning, giving the Celtics full control of the NBA Development League team's basketball operations. Maine had previously shared the affiliation with the Charlotte Bobcats and Philadelphia 76ers.
It is a three-year agreement, effective beginning in the 2012-13 season.
"In our three years we have had outstanding support from our fans," said Bill Ryan, Jr., the chairman and president of the Red Claws. "And a huge part of that support stems from our relationship with the Boston Celtics. Obviously Maine is a huge Celtics stronghold and it's always been extremely important to us to have an affiliation with the Celtics.
"I'm extremely excited about our enhanced partnership with the Celtics."
Under the deal, Ryan and his group will continue to operate the day-to-day business activities of the Red Claws. The Celtics will be responsible for hiring the team's next coach and supplying the talent.
Danny Ainge, president of the Celtics, said the Red Claws basketball operations will be headed by the Celtics front office. That group will include Ainge, Austin Ainge (former Red Claws head coach, now Boston's Director of Player Personnel), Ryan McDonough (Boston's assistant general manager) and Mike Zarren (assistant general manager and team counsel).
The search for a new head coach will begin this summer. Dave Leitao left the Red Claws after one season to take a position as an assistant coach at Missouri.
This will be the fifth single-affiliation partnership, known as a "hybrid affiliation," in the D-League.
"This is the natural evolution of what has always been a strong partnership," said Dan Reed, president of the D-League.
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