The NBA offseason is in full swing with the NBA Draft taking place on Thursday night, and Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has been making moves.
However, there’s one move he may want to hold off on, as it could complicate his son’s chances of winning an election in Utah.
Danny’s son, 33-year-old Tanner Ainge, is running as a Republican for Congress to replace the retiring House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz.
The Celtics have plenty of cap space to sign one, possibly two, big name free agents this offseason, and Danny has his sights set on Utah Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward. That’s where things get dicey.
In an interview with KSL Newsradio’s “The Doug Wright Show” on Tuesday, Ainge appeared to tie his candidacy to Hayward’s decision. “Unfortunately, I’m not sure I have a lot of influence there. Ultimately, Gordon is going to make the decision. I hope he stays.”
Asked if he thinks Utah voters will hold Hayward’s decision over Ainge’s head, he said, “I have no idea.”
Ainge has largely stayed out of the media spotlight since announcing his bid to replace Chaffetz in May.
On Monday, the Celtics traded their 2017 number one draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers’ 3rd pick for a future first round draft pick. If Danny Ainge gets top talent with a lot of upside, he could attract other players besides Hayward, which will certainly give Tanner a sigh of relief.
Besides Ainge, Provo Mayor John Curtis and real estate developer Chris Herrod are competing to win the Republican primary.
The special election is scheduled for November 7th.
