Former Celtics guard Danny Ainge continues to consider an offer to become head of basketball operations for his former team and a deal could be completed and announced as early as today, sources close to the negotiations said.

''While my long-term goals of running a franchise have been well publicized, no deal has been completed and no deal has been signed,'' Ainge said in a statement released by TNT, where he is a basketball analyst.

Ainge and the team's owners met for a third time yesterday afternoon to discuss the multimillion-dollar offer to bring Ainge back into the Boston fold.

Meanwhile, general manager Chris Wallace continued his scouting duties in Madrid. If Ainge returned to Boston, Wallace would have a diminished role in the franchise, according to sources. Whether or not Ainge takes over as head of basketball operations, it's very likely Wallace's tenure with the team will end when his three-year extension expires in 2006. Still, Wallace stated it was his ''first preference is to stay with the Boston Celtics'' and he continues to plan for the draft and free agency.