Carr Replaces Gavitt in Celtic Front Office

The Boston Celtics fired Dave Gavitt as senior executive vice president Tuesday and replaced him with former Celtic player M.L. Carr, who will decide whether former teammate Chris Ford remains as coach.

Gavitt will be a vice chairman of the Celtic board with unspecified responsibilities but will no longer be in charge of basketball operations.

Carr, who had been director of community relations, conceded that the decision was partly an outcome of a season in which the Celtics failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1979.

“It’s been slipping over the last few months,” Carr said. “Is this a reaction to that? Maybe to a certain degree. But I think they’ve picked the best guy for the job.”

He said the fate of Ford remains in limbo.

“If Chris’ plan fits what we want to do, then Chris Ford will continue to be the coach of the Boston Celtics,” Carr said. “I reserve the right to make that decision until Chris and I have had a chance to sit down and talk.”