Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - The Boston Celtics introduced Danny Ainge as the team's new head of basketball operations at a press conference Friday.

"I am very happy he accepted the position with us," said Celtics president Red Auerbach. "I know that it will be a great relationship because Danny is a worker. He has a great personality, he's smart and bleeds green."

Ainge, who spent this past season on television as an NBA analyst, played for the Celtics from 1981-89. He was an extremely popular player during his time with the club and helped the team win championships in 1984 and 1986.

"It's a tough challenge, there's no question," Ainge said in response to a question about bringing a 17th championship to Beantown. "I've seen a lot of franchises and a lot of teams with very qualified, good people that haven't been able to get over the hump. There's 29 teams out there trying to do the exact same thing we're trying to do. So we know it's a difficult challenge and I'm looking forward to that challenge."

The Celtics have won 16 NBA titles, more than any other NBA team, but none since 1986.

"I'm excited for this opportunity. I'm grateful that the ownership group has confidence in me to help turn this thing around," Ainge said. "As I was doing television, I was sitting around and thinking that I would like to get back in the game at some point with some team, not having any idea, not seeking those opportunities and just waiting to see if an opportunity would arise."

The hiring could mean a diminished role for current Celtics general manager Chris Wallace. Former Celtics owner Paul Gaston had signed Wallace to a three- year contract extension before he sold the club last September.

"I'm in charge of the coaching staff and the scouting staff and making the basketball decisions. And I'm very excited to work with Chris (Wallace)," Ainge added.

The 44-year-old Ainge was head coach of the Phoenix Suns from 1996-99, and led the team to a 136-90 record before announcing his resignation.

The Celtics take on the New Jersey Nets in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup at the FleetCenter Friday night. Boston dropped the first two games of the series at the Meadowlands.

"I feel like I need to evaluate everything. I need to evaluate the coaching staff, the players, the scouting staff and everything that's going on in the basketball operations. And so I'm in no rush to do any of that," Ainge said. "I'd like to just take my time and evaluate everybody and what they're doing. For now, I'm going to be hands off. I don't want to interfere with what they have going on here in the playoffs. I am absolutely not going to get involved right now (in the Nets series). I want no distractions."