Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday he has granted permission for general manager Chris Wallace to talk with the Portland Trail Blazers. Wallace had dinner with Portland coach Maurice Cheeks Monday in Los Angeles, where Cheeks was taping an appearance on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.''

Portland president/general manager Bob Whitsitt resigned after his team exited the playoffs in the first round earlier this month, and since then, a number of candidates have expressed interest in the job. Although Wallace has not asked for permission to speak with teams other than the Blazers, Ainge said he would not hesitate to grant it.''I think that he would like to look and see what options are out there,'' said Ainge. ''I think he would like to run a team on his own. But we will welcome him back if that opportunity is not there.''Reached yesterday on his cell phone, Wallace offered ''no comment'' on the Portland job. ''I'm still under contract with the Celtics and eager to jump into work with Danny and get going on our final preparations for the draft,'' said Wallace. ''We're in the backstretch with five weeks to go. The visits have begun, and that's very important.''