Gordon Hayward has opted out of his agreement with the Celtics. But just because he's now a loose agent doesn’t mean he gained’t emerge as again in Boston.
There is still a totally real risk that Hayward is carried out with the Celtics. And there is a totally actual threat he leaves city and the Celtics are left with nothing to reveal for it.
That would be a big disappointment, on account that Hayward is a darn good participant and the Celtics are better when he’s at the group. Injuries have derailed his 3-year run in Boston, but while he’s healthy, he's a do-the whole lot player that helps Brad Stevens’ system pass. Losing him subtracts a skilled two-manner player from a team hoping to compete for a name in 2020-21.
But again, there may be a risk that Hayward returns. No one is aware of what will appear when loose organisation opens up at 6 p.M. On Friday — including Hayward.
Hayward is well-known for making his decisions on the remaining minute. We noticed it while he first signed with Boston, along with his statement highjacking all and sundry’s Fourth of July, and we noticed it Thursday whilst he went right up to his five p.M. Closing date. So we can be ready a bit for Hayward to make up his thoughts all over again.
But there are best three options for Hayward and the Celtics now that he is a free agent:
Hayward Signs Elsewhere, Celtics Get Nothing
This might be a bummer. Hayward is unfastened to sign a profitable cope with all of us he desires, and there are reportedly some teams out there that can be inclined to offer him a variety of money.
The Knicks cleared a boatload of cap space this week and will reportedly make an aggressive push to sign Hayward. The Atlanta Hawks even have a ton of cap space and could use a participant like Hayward as they appearance to climb out of the NBA basement.
Would Hayward need to go to either of these locations, both of which might be recognised more for their dropping than their winning these days? Only if he needs a larger position and lots extra cash.
That would leave a large void at the Celtics intensity chart and little or no wiggle room to fill it. Hayward leaving wouldn’t deliver Boston $34 million to work with, for the reason that C’s are already over the cap. Instead, it'd open up the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception at $9.Three million (rather than the Taxpayer MLE of $5.7 million). Danny Ainge may want to probable be able to get a decent player for that, however no longer absolutely everyone near Hayward.
Hayward signs an extension with Boston
If Hayward does adore it in Boston and is OK with his role, he should signal an extension that offers him some extra years of safety. It wouldn’t be a max deal, however the Celtics personal his Bird Rights, so they might sign him returned although it maintains them over the cap. They can’t spend the cash somewhere else, so bringing Hayward lower back for some more years (at a much cheaper fee) is truely one in every of their best options.
Work Out A Sign-And-Trade
If the Hayward marriage is over in Boston, the other option that could be beneficial to the Celtics could be working out a signal-and-trade. If Hayward doesn’t need to play for the Knicks or Hawks, he and the Celtics can look for a scenario that training session for the two sides, with Boston getting some thing in return for the forward.
The Indiana Pacers have lengthy been rumored to be inquisitive about Hayward, however can’t sign him outright based totally on their cap situation. This is in which a signal-and-alternate comes into play, and could land the Celtics a very good player in go back, doubtlessly Indy big guy Myles Turner.
It’s a pass that stays on the desk as of Friday morning, in keeping with Mark Stein of the New York Times.