We still don’t have official word from Gordon Hayward‘s camp on where he’ll sign, but it has been an eventful day on the Hayward front.
After a report from Chris Haynes of ESPN – which was confirmed by several other reputable journalists – indicated that Hayward planned to sign with the Celtics, subsequent reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and others suggested it wasn’t a done deal after all.
Mark Bartelstein, Hayward’s agent, issued a statement confirming that his client hadn’t finalized his decision. While Bartelstein said they’d expect to announce a decision today, he added that, in the wake of this afternoon’s drama, “We’ve got to kind of regroup here a bit.” Meanwhile, Jazz president Steve Sparks issued a statement that read, in part, “We trust Gordon and his agent that no decision has been made.”
Although Hayward is not ready to confirm reports on his free agent destination yet, it sounds like the Heat may be out of the mix. Wojnarowski reported this afternoon on ESPN that Hayward eliminated the Heat from consideration on Monday night (Twitter links via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald).
Bartelstein has not addressed that report, and a source tells Anthony Chiang of The Palm Beach Post (Twitter link) that the Heat haven’t been formally informed that they’re out of the running. However, Jackson tweets that a Hayward associate told him this morning that Miami was a long shot.
If the Heat are out, that would narrow the group of finalists for Hayward to the Celtics and the Jazz, with Boston seemingly holding the major edge based on today’s initial reports. It’s possible that details are still being sorted out in regard to Hayward’s contract and the Celtics’ cap situation, since Boston currently doesn’t have room to accommodate their reported maximum salary offer for the star forward.
Still, while the Celtics look like the heavy favorite, the Jazz appear to be holding on to hope. Jody Genessy of The Deseret News (Twitter link) acknowledges that Hayward was leaning toward the Celtics, but has been told by multiple sources that the 27-year-old “never fully made up his mind.”
Meanwhile, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune, who heard earlier from a source that Hayward has “changed his mind four times in the last four days,” confirmed this afternoon (via Twitter) that neither the Celtics nor the Jazz were informed of Hayward’s decision in an official capacity today.
As we continue to wait for resolution, here’s our chronological roundup of today’s earlier Hayward updates.
Two possibilities:
1. The deal is done but the agent wants to personally give Pat Riley the word, and Riley is not taking his call in order to create some mischief for the Celtics.
2. The Celtics have another deal in the works and are trying to work a deal or two to clear cap space in advance of the signing.
The first one is so ridiculous the second makes sense
3. Hayward doesnt appreciate the medis leak, and a 51%/49% odds just switched back to Utah.
4. He paused and realized what a whiny, two-faced, rumor spreading, arrogant, a-hole liar Danny Ainge is.
I don’t think that’s fair to say about Danny Ainge.
But he is the most overrated GM probably
In the NBA but certainly in Boston. The guy straight up sucks!
I guess it was George or Butler or bust for yous.
I dont see how you dont respect the guy.he put together a perennial contenders with Pierce,Allen & Garnett.he choose a good time when to rebuild.he got Boston right back into contention in just a couple seasons.he had the team in position this year to compete and get a top 5 pick.likely gonna repeat that next year,and possibly 2019 if the Lakers pick dont convey.and they have other extra 1sts and 2nds.theyre in about as good a position as anyone without Curry,Durant and Lebron.ya gotta respect the guy,and this is coming from a 6er fan.
Fail
Sign and trade between the Celtics and Jazz where Jazz receive Crowder and Boston’s 1st round pick (they have Brooklyn’s and maybe the Lakers’ anyway) and Celtics could give Hayward the max makes the most sense to me
Agreed. I think that’s the best bet.
Why would Ainge agree to that?
If Hayward goes to Boston, it’s for just money.
If he stays in Utah, the Jazz wouldn’t want to trade him.
Ainge would agree to it because they need to give up a little bit of salary in order to offer Hayward the max and the Celtics have an over abundance at sf if they sign Hayward without moving Brown, Crowder, or Tatum and Crowder is the most likely to be moved
If its just for money,he stays in Utah.
If he goes to Boston,its to win and a chance to go deeper into the playoffs.
Boston has too many 3’s on their roster, Crowder is expendable with an affordable contract. If Hayward agreed to go to Boston, the Jazz would love to get a solid player in Crowder, plus any draft picks would be incentive to take him.
The longer this goes on with Hayward and the Celtics, it looks like Amateur Hour. Plus, if the Celtics have to move some people, this Hayward news should have never come out.
It’s makes the league look like Amateur Hour as well.
SMH
Not really,considering deals arent even official for a few more days.
True, but rumors leaking and then .. is just bad for business.
You know the definition of the word rumor?
CELTICS BABY!!!!
Hayward with celts
They goin to the finals