Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge has confirmed that he would like to work with former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale.

McHale was fired by the Rockets earlier this week after the franchise lost four games in a row to go 4-7 to start the season after finishing as the Western Conference second seed last campaign.

Ainge, who played with McHale during the pair's time at the Celtics, has revealed that he had tried to get his former teammate to join him in the past, but admitted that he thought the coach was likely to take some time off from basketball after his dismissal.

"I have always tried to get Kevin to come work with me and work with my big guys," he told the Boston Herald. "I told Kevin that today. We have got a spot for him. I know we could figure something out for him in some capacity, but I think that he is just in a wait-and-see mode.

"He appreciated me reaching out to him, but I think that he is just going to lay low. He has probably got bigger and better things to do - or more relaxing things to do."

McHale guided the Rockets to three consecutive playoff appearances but was replaced by JB Bickerstaff on Wednesday, who helped the franchise snap their four-game losing streak with victory over Portland on the same day.