“I think Antoine’s ego was hurt a little bit. He’s a prideful guy, but I think he knows that it wasn’t personal,” Ainge said. “I told him it was a lot more pleasant calling him this time. It’s never fun making that (other) call.

“But, to be honest, I don’t care what he thinks of me. I’m just glad he’s excited to come to Boston.”

Walker spent seven years with the Celtics from 1996-2003, making the All-Star team three times. But nine days before the 2003 opener, Ainge traded the team’s strongest all-around player and its strongest personality to Dallas for center Raef LaFrentz, guard Jiri Welsch and a first-round draft pick. Dallas traded Walker to Atlanta last summer; Welsch was traded to Cleveland on Thursday for a 2007 first-round draft pick.

As a TV analyst before he took over the Celtics, Ainge made no secret of his distaste for Walker’s game. When Walker was traded, Ainge commented less on his play than on his influence on the locker room, saying the player “had a grasp on the franchise.”

“He’s been the best player here for quite a while. He’s been a vocal leader in the locker room,” Ainge said at the time. “Now we’re going in a different direction.”

Walker leads Atlanta with 20.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 40.2 minutes per game. In his career, he is averaging 20 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Payton, 36, reluctantly came to Boston last summer after the Lakers traded him in the aftermath of their Shaq-and-Kobe disaster. He is averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 assists this season while serving as a mentor to the 23-year-old Banks.

As part of the trade, Atlanta cut disgruntled point guard Kenny Anderson and forward Chris Crawford, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury.

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