Former Celtics executive Danny Ainge reportedly a candidate to join Jazz in advisory role

Former Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge announced his retirement earlier this month, but it appears he might not be ready to officially end his post-playing career in the NBA. 

According to The Athletic's Tony Jones, Ainge is a candidate to join the Jazz in an advisory role. 

Earlier this month, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor said on The "Ryen Russillo Podcast" that Ainge would be interested in working for the Jazz or Portland Trail Blazers. However, he added that "Utah won't hire him."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Justin Zanik "will continue to run day-to-day basketball operations as GM, which he's done since Lindsey's promotion to EVP in 2019." It seems unlikely that Ainge joins the Jazz in a role underneath Zanik after spending years as Boston's top executive. However, it's not impossible. 

Ainge took over as Boston's executive director of basketball operations in 2003 and was promoted to president of basketball operations in 2008. 

Some of the 62-year-old's best moves as an executive came during the 2007-08 season when he traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who joined Paul Pierce to form a new "Big Three" and lead the Celtics to the NBA title. The moves earned Ainge the NBA Executive of the Year Award. 

Before stepping down with the Celtics, he had been criticized for not adding another superstar to join Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. According to Bleacher Report's Farbod Esnaashari, players around the NBA did not trust Celtics management while Ainge was Boston's president of basketball operations, so it's no surprise he was never able to land an additional piece. 

Still, Ainge's résumé is impressive, and he could resurface with another NBA team this summer. It remains to be seen if the Jazz will show serious interest.