Jeff Green was characteristically non-committal recently when asked about his impending free agency. (Washington Post via @MrTrpleDouble10)

After averaging 15.1 points with the Thunder, Green averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 26 regular season games and 7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in playoff games for Boston. Boston is expected to pursue him in free agency, but when asked if the Celtics were his first option, Green said, “I just want to play basketball, wherever it’s at. I love Boston and the city of Boston welcomed me with open arms when the trade happened. Boston is a great city.” …

Green won’t stress over where he winds up, whenever the next season begins. “Not at all. I have one of the best agents in the game, David Falk,” Green said. “He’s going to make sure I’m in a good position. He does his job and I do mine. I leave it up to him to try to make sure everything is intact when that time comes.”

When Green said, “The city of Boston welcomed me with open arms when the trade happened,” he forgot to add, “It wasn’t until a month or two later that most of the city turned on me.”

The Celtics picked up Green’s $5.9 million qualifying offer, meaning they can match any contract offer he receives. Should Danny Ainge choose to keep Green, he would likely do so with a shorter, less expensive contract. If Green proved anything last year in Boston, it’s that he still has a lot to prove. And if Green hasn’t improved substantially since May, giving him a long-term deal this summer could be like the annual end of Daylight Savings Time — it could set the Celtics back substantially.

The Jeff Green decision could make or break the Celtics future, one way or the other. Ainge needs to choose wisely.

Hint: Danny, unless he comes dirt cheap, let him walk. Or better yet, sign-and-trade him for a veteran with one year left on his contract. Sacrificing any substantial amount of Boston’s 2012 cap space on Jeff Green would be sabotage.