The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has exercised the fourth year option on guard Rajon Rondo. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The third-year product out of Kentucky averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.68 steals last season.  Rondo also averaged 10.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.73 steals during the Celtics run to their 17th NBA Championship last spring. During the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend, Rondo started for the Sophomore team in the Rookie Challenge scoring six points and had six assists in 18 minutes.  The former Wildcat was originally acquired in a draft night trade from the Phoenix Suns along with Brian Grant and cash considerations in exchange for a future first round pick on June 28, 2006.

After landing the head coaching job in Chicago, one of the first people that Vinny Del Negro sought advice from was Boston coach Doc Rivers, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

Del Negro played two seasons with Rivers in San Antonio from 1994-96.

"Doc gave me some advice, but it's more between me and him," Del Negro said. "He knows what it's like. Those are the people I talked to a lot and sought out. He was kind enough to give me some helpful information."

Paul Pierce led the Boston Celtics to a season-opening win, 90-85, over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night with 27 points.

The Celtics, who raised their 17th championship banner into the rafters of T.D. Banknorth Garden and received their rings prior to the game, used a strong third quarter to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit.

Rajon Rondo added 14 points, 5 rebound,s and 5 assists in the victory while Leon Powe tallied 13 points off the bench.

Boston shot 44% from the field but went just 3-for-13 from three-point land. Cleveland shot 42% and struggled from downtown as well, hitting just three of their seventeen attempts.

LeBron James led the Cavs with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists while Anderson Varejao contributed 9 points and 9 rebounds in a reserve role.

Mo Williams, making his Cleveland debut, struggled slightly. He posted 12 points, 4 assists, and five fouls in the loss, going 4-for-11 from the field.

The Cavs turned the ball over four more times than the defending-champion Celtics.

LeBron James says that the Cavaliers will not be on the court to watch the Celtics receive their rings on Tuesday night.

"We don't need to be out there watching that; we need to get ready for the game," James said. "Congratulations to them. But we're not [like] the fans of Boston. We don't need to be out there clapping for them getting rings."

The Cavaliers will wait in the locker room until the ceremony is over.

"It's stupid," James said of using the ceremony as motivation.

The Celtics have extended the contract of Danny Ainge and given him a new title, president of basketball operations.

His former title was executive director of basketball operations and general manager.

"Danny has been a key part of building our world championship team and basketball program," team managing partner and co-owner Stephen Pagliuca said in a statement. "He represents all that is the best of Celtics Pride and we applaud his success."

The Celtics have extended the contract of Danny Ainge and given him a new title, president of basketball operations.

His former title was executive director of basketball operations and general manager.

"Danny has been a key part of building our world championship team and basketball program," team managing partner and co-owner Stephen Pagliuca said in a statement. "He represents all that is the best of Celtics Pride and we applaud his success."

The Celtics have been praising Darius Miles, whom they recently released, but two NBA general managers claim that the Blazers have been bad-mouthing the free agent forward.

Miles was bothered by both injuries and off-the-court problems during his five seasons in Portland and was waived April 14. However, if he plays in ten games over the next two seasons, the Blazers will be on the hook for $18 million in salary.

"He can still play, and he also hasn't played in two years, so you have to understand that he will get better," one NBA GM said.

"Too bad Portland is putting out bad information that he is not a good kid. Anything and everything they can say bad they are. It's too bad. He's a nice kid with a bad injury who has fought back. Right now, he's still an NBA player, and he's going to get better. He's going to improve. It will be a smart pick-up for someone."

Celtics' coach Doc Rivers believes that his team can repeat as NBA champions this season.

The league's annual survey of general managers listed the Lakers as the most likely team to win this year's title.

"Oh, I don't care one way or the other," Rivers said of the survey, according to a report. "We pick us. We picked us last year, too.

"The bottom line is we have to be a better team than we were last year to win it. We believe that," Rivers added. "To us, that's a process that we're going to have to go through all year to improve as a basketball team. And I think I have a group of guys that are willing to do that."

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant hopes to not only reach the NBA Finals once again, but to face the Celtics for the second-straight year.

"Of course, [I want Boston]," Bryant said. "If you see a guy that you fought at lunchtime and he knocked you out, oh, I'm coming back the next day. I don't want the little 4-foot guy. I want the big football player, that's what I want."

Bryant isn't the only one who wants to face Boston next June.

"You always want to play against the team you lost to. They're a heck of a team. I would love to play against Boston, personally," Lamar Odom said.

Celtics' forward Paul Pierce believes that Darius Miles, who was cut by the team earlier this week, will find a home with another team in the near future.

"I definitely think he is going to catch on with someone once he gets his confidence down," Pierce said. "He has a good basketball IQ and great intangibles. So once he gets his confidence back, he?s going to be great. He?s still a young player."

Pierce is hoping that people won't downgrade Miles' ability because of his knee issues.

"You?re asking a lot of a guy who has been out two years and had microfracture surgery to be the same again," Pierce added. "But he has a lot to offer. His game entails being a great defender and being quicker than the guy he?s going against. I think he?ll do fine."