BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics traded guard Danny Ainge and second-year foward Brad Lohaus to the Sacramento Kings Thursday for forward Ed Pinckney and backup center Joe Kleine.
The Celtics confirmed the deal shortly after the NBA trading deadline expired at 9 p.m. EST.
Rumors that Ainge would be traded surfaced earlier this week, as the seven-year veteran's role with the team diminished during the course of a disappointing season for the Celtics.
A strong showing by rookie guard Brian Shaw relegated Ainge to sixth-man status. Lohaus, who played collegiate ball at Iowa, never played up to expectations in his brief Celtic tenure.
'Danny has been a tremendous player for us, a real asset to the team,' said Celtics coach Jimmy Rodgers. 'Danny is a great person and we are sorry to see him go. The trade is favorable for the Kings and us.'
Ainge, 29, played in 45 games this season, averaging 16.1 points per game. Lohaus, 24, has played in 48 games this year, averaging 5.6 points and 3 rebounds per game for the 24-28 Celtics.
Although capable of exceptional play, Lohaus, a 7-footer, was unable to develop into a reliable inside force, relying instead on an outside jump shot. He saw his playing minutes dwindle as the season wore on.
The 6-foot-9 Pinckney, 25, a four-year veteran from Villanova, has played in 51 games this season, averaging 12.3 points per game. The 6-foot-11 Kleine, 27, was taken by the Kings in the first round of the 1985 draft. Klein, who played collegiate ball at Arkansas, has appeared in 47 games averaging 6.7 points and 5 rebounds this season for the 14-37 Kings.
The 6-5 Ainge signed with the Celtics after giving up a professional baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He developed into one of the NBA's best 3-point shooters and was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team in 1988 for his long-range marksmanship.
On Friday, the Celtics play at Boston Garden against the Dallas Mavericks and the Kings visit the Los Angeles Lakers. Both Klein and Pinckney probably will not join the Celtics until Sunday's game in New York, a Celtics official said.
Kleine's wife Dana, gave birth to a baby boy on Friday.
