Red Auerbach was so happy to have Danny Ainge back, he didn't need a victory to light up his cigar.

``In the tradition of the Celtics family, it's a coup to get this guy,'' said Auerbach, who drafted Ainge in 1981 and lured him away from major league baseball so he could help the Boston Celtics win the last two of their NBA-record 16 championships. ``This guy will get it done. He's very bright, and he's lucky, too.''

The Celtics made Ainge executive director of basketball operations Friday, just hours before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New Jersey Nets.