The Boston Celtics will face the possibility of having to replace Gordon Hayward after he reaches unrestricted free agency. To some NBA insiders, that appears to be the expectation at this point.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, it doesn’t look like Gordon Hayward will ever play an NBA game in a Celtics uniform ever again.
“It doesn’t look like Gordon Hayward will ever wear a Celtics jersey again. It’s likely [Gordon Hayward] already has another deal on the table. [Hayward & his agent] aren’t going to opt out of $34 million unless they’re as sure as they can be there’s another deal out there.
“Maybe it’s a team you could sign outright with like the New York Knicks or the Atlanta Hawks. Maybe there’s been some discussions about a sign & trade situation with the Celtics.”
The role Hayward has been involved in since returning from his injury wasn’t what he signed with the Celtics to receive— making it understandable he would want to move on.
The Celtics don’t face a pressing need to pay a third wing big money when considering Jayson Tatum will soon be needing a maximum contract extension. Boston would be better served using the cap space that would have gone to Hayward on a different spot or two.
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There will be plenty of options for Hayward around the NBA when considering it’s difficult to find talented upper-tier wing players. A lower level team with cap space like the New York Knicks or Atlanta Hawks could be possibilities, or a better team using a sign-and-trade.
Using the sign-and-trade route, the Indiana Pacers continue to appear as a clear option. Gordon Hayward would be going back to his hometown where he was a star at Butler. Indiana needs to add a talented wing if they were to break up the Sabonis-Turner frontcourt while the Celtics could use Myles Turner.
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