BOSTON — A Celtics summer of drastic change began in June when the Utah Jazz hired away Austin Ainge from Boston to become their new team president of basketball operations.

Ainge spent 12 years in Boston before reuniting with father and Jazz basketball CEO Danny Ainge four years after he stepped down in Boston. The younger Ainge is still putting his fingerprints on an inexperienced Jazz roster just a few months into his tenure but he’s already rebuilding a strong connection with Jazz coach Will Hardy.

Ainge and Hardy spent one year together in Boston with neighboring offices when Hardy was an assistant under Ime Udoka for the 2021-22 season. This time around, the duo finds themselves in more prominent roles as they become neighbors again.

“Now, our offices are next to each other,

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