NBA Rumors: Gordon Hayward Headed To The Boston Celtics Via Trade?


The Boston Celtics have expressed interest in a trade for Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, according to Basketball Insiders. If successful in striking a deal, the Celtics would be reuniting Hayward with his former head coach at Butler, Brad Stevens.

Boston general manager Danny Ainge has been desperately searching for a big name or two to add to his roster via trade, but has yet to find a match to his liking. The Celtics have been tied to the likes of Jimmy Butler, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Kevin Love and even Russell Westbrook so far this offseason, but a deal has yet to come to fruition.

Ainge has compiled a number of assets over previous seasons in an attempt to prepare for some major moves during the 2016 offseason. The Celtics had three first-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft and still possess two more first-round picks, one in 2017 and one in 2018, that they acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 trade involving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Those two first-round picks hold significant value as they’re nearly guaranteed to be high lottery selections due to the disarray of the Nets’ organization. Boston is reportedly willing to deal at least one of those picks for an established star, but other teams have reportedly been asking for more than Ainge is willing to give in return.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says that has led the Celtics to check on the availability of Gordon Hayward, who is entering the final year of his current contract.

“There is a sense the Celtics would love to pry away Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, who has a player option next year, which few in the NBA believe he’ll exercise meaning he’ll likely be an unrestricted free agent. There were rumors around the draft that Hayward would welcome a trade, but Jazz sources downplayed any reported unhappiness. Still, there is a real risk that Hayward could walk next July.

“Jazz sources said it’s highly unlikely the team even considers a trade for Hayward, but that won’t stop the Celtics from checking the temperature there as teams head into the new NBA season in late September.”

It would be hard to see the Jazz trading Gordon Hayward at this point. Utah is looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season and trading away Gordon, who led the team with 19.7 points per game in 2015-16, would seem to be counterproductive.

At the same time, the Celtics can offer the type of package for Gordon Hayward that could blow the socks off of Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey. If Utah feels like there’s a real chance that Hayward would leave next offseason, and Boston is offering a massive package, then Lindsey could be forced to play his hand and go ahead with a trade.

If Ainge were able to pry Gordon Hayward from the hands of the Utah Jazz, Boston would suddenly be one of the top two or three teams in the Eastern Conference. Hayward would join Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas to form an explosive threesome that could give the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers serious problems next season.

At this point, it doesn’t sound like a deal is imminent for Gordon, but it’s definitely a situation to keep an eye on. Celtics fans won’t be happy with Ainge if he goes into the 2015-16 season with the current roster after promising to add pieces and turn Boston into a contender. Adding Gordon Hayward would certainly turn the Celtics’ offseason into a successful one.

[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]

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