Editing Boston Celtics (section)

====2003–2007: New ownership and arrival of Doc Rivers====
In 2003, the Celtics were sold by owner Paul Gaston to Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C.,<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/Partners_123102.html |title=Boston Basketball Partners Assume Ownership of Celtics Franchise |work=NBA.com |date=December 31, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184526/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/Partners_123102.html |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> led by [[H. Irving Grousbeck]], [[Wycliffe Grousbeck]] and [[Steve Pagliuca]]. The team made it back to the [[2003 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] but were swept by the Nets in the second round, despite bringing Game 4 to double overtime.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ 2003 NBA Playoffs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107233033/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ |date=November 7, 2018 }}, nba.com, accessed May 2, 2003.</ref> Before their elimination, the team hired former Celtics' guard [[Danny Ainge]] as general manager, moving Chris Wallace to another position in the organization. Ainge believed the team had reached its peak and promptly sent Antoine Walker to the [[Dallas Mavericks]] (along with [[Tony Delk]]).<ref>[http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/mavs_aquire_antoine_walker_boston.html Mavs Acquire &#91;sic&#93; Antoine Walker and Tony Delk from Boston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184548/http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/mavs_aquire_antoine_walker_boston.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com/mavericks. Retrieved April 6, 2006.</ref> In return, the Celtics received the often-injured [[Raef LaFrentz]], [[Chris Mills (basketball)|Chris Mills]], [[Jiří Welsch]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/102003_CelticsAcquireLafrentz.html Celtics Acquire LaFrentz, Mills & Welsch From Mavericks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184616/http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/102003_CelticsAcquireLafrentz.html |date=June 28, 2011 }}, nba.com. Retrieved April 6, 2005.</ref> and a first-round pick in [[2004 NBA draft|2004]]. The Celtics made the [[2004 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], only to be swept in the first round by the Indiana Pacers, losing all four games.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2004/series?series=indbos 2004 NBA Playoffs], sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved June 14, 2004.</ref>

[[File:Doc Rivers.JPG|thumb|150px|Head coach [[Doc Rivers]] led the Celtics to an NBA title in 2008.]]
The Celtics were a young team under new coach [[Doc Rivers]] during the 2004–05 season,<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708065626/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_20_105/ai_n6160431/ Doc Rivers goes back to the bench, hired to coach Boston Celtics], findarticles.com May 17, 2004, accessed May 20, 2004.</ref> having drafted youngsters [[Al Jefferson]], [[Delonte West]] and [[Tony Allen (basketball)|Tony Allen]] in the 2004 Draft. Yet they seemed to have a core of good young players, led by Pierce and rookie [[Al Jefferson]], to go along with a group of able veterans. The Celtics went 45–37 and won their first [[NBA Atlantic Division|Atlantic Division]] title since [[1991–92 NBA season|1991–92]], receiving a boost from returning star Antoine Walker in mid-season. The Pacers defeated them in the first round yet again, with the series culminating in an embarrassing 27-point loss in Game 7 at the [[FleetCenter (Boston)|Fleet Center]]. After the season Walker was traded again, this time to the [[Miami Heat]]. Despite Pierce's career season, in which he averaged career-highs in points (26.8), the Celtics missed the playoffs with a 33–49 record, owing largely to a young roster and constant roster shuffling, which saw the likes of [[Marcus Banks]], [[Ricky Davis]] and [[Mark Blount]] traded for underachieving former first-overall pick [[Michael Olowokandi]] and former all-star [[Wally Szczerbiak]].

The Celtics continued to rebuild in the [[2006 NBA draft]]. The Celtics selected Kentucky point guard [[Rajon Rondo]], who was to become a key piece in the team's revival. In the second round the Celtics added center [[Leon Powe]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/draft-central/press062806-draft-rights-powe.html Celtics Acquire Draft Rights to Leon Powe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503174907/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/draft-central/press062806-draft-rights-powe.html |date=May 3, 2009 }}, nba.com, accessed April 7, 2008.</ref> The [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]] was a gloomy one for the franchise, starting with the death of Red Auerbach at 89. Auerbach was one of the few remaining people who had been a part of the NBA since its inception in 1946.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2642131 Legendary Celtics coach Auerbach dead at age 89], sports.espn.go.com October 29, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2006.</ref> The Celtics went 2–22 from late December 2006 through early February 2007 after losing Pierce to injury, the result of a stress reaction in his left foot. At first, the Celtics received a much-needed boost from guard [[Tony Allen (basketball)|Tony Allen]] but he tore his [[anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]] and [[medial collateral ligament|MCL]] on a needless dunk attempt after the whistle.<ref>Gil, Gideon [https://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/recovery_from_a.html Recovery from ACL tear took 6–9 months] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126223146/http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/recovery_from_a.html |date=January 26, 2012 }}, boston.com September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.</ref> The Celtics compiled a record of 24–58, second-worst in the NBA, including a franchise-record [[List of National Basketball Association longest losing streaks|18-game losing streak]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2866831 Celtics finished with second-worst record last season], sports.espn.go.com May 10, 2007, accessed May 14, 2008.</ref> At the end of the season, the Celtics, with the second-worst record in the NBA, were at least hopeful that they could secure a high draft pick and select either [[Greg Oden]] or [[Kevin Durant]] to help rebuild the franchise, but the Celtics fell to fifth in the Draft Lottery.