Gordon Hayward has the option to hit the market this offseason and the Pacers may have eyes for the former Butler wing. J.Michael of the Indianapolis Star (via NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics Talk Podcast) indicates that Indiana would have a level of interest in the 30-year-old.
“There’s no doubt (he) would be (a potential target for the Pacers),” Michael said. “…the kind of player Hayward is, is the kind of player they would definitely be interested in.”
Hayward, who has a player option on his deal for next season worth $34.2MM, can play multiple positions and that would be valuable alongside Indiana’s core.
“You can play an even more small-ball lineup,” Michael said. “Say for instance, you moved on (Myles Turner) or (Domantas Sabonis). Now you have space where you can go with real small-ball lineups and slot guys like him at the (power forward) and come up with some real diverse lineups that could give teams troubles and still have that big man/rim protector underneath to help keep the defensive integrity.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic shortening the season, the exact value of the 2020/21 salary cap is to be determined. Same with the following year. Still, Indiana has approximately $122.8MM in guaranteed contracts on the books for next season, which creates obstacles to Indiana outright signing Hayward if he were to opt to hit the market.
Regardless of whether the NBA returns or not, the salary cap will NOT increase next year. At best it remains flat but it most likely decreases. No team would give Hayward $34 million per year especially in year one. Why the hell would he opt out?
Maybe he opts out for less per/yr dollars next year I’m exchange for long term stability. If he and his agent think he can get 4 yrs/80-90 million, it might be worth opting out given his injury history.
Or he can get paid $34MM this year and then get 4/80-90 next year.
I don’t know how much long-term security will factor in. He already has 34 million guaranteed. So if you’re high end guess is he gets 4/90, you’re thinking he’d do it for the additional 56 million.
If he stays in Boston next year, takes the 34 million, and let’s the chips fall a bit, all he really has to beat is 3/56m after next season. Even if the caps goes down, or he gets injured again, I still think he could get something in that range.
Ask Isaiah Thomas how much money he made when he hit the open market.
Giving back 14M to secure an additional 66M has clear value.
To think long term Id imagine Dfo-
Also many players of all sports have not meshed well with Bos. Lets not forget how aggressive that media is and how many articles he had to endure the 1.5 yrs he was hurt on how his salary was holding this storied franchise back-
My thoughts when reading the title…….
Hell yea, that be coo, a player from a major market going to a place like Indy next. I dig it, it shows that the system is working, you would harldy ever see something like this in baseball happen from an All star in his prime
Hayward is just fine in Boston. Everyone was disappointed he got hurt right out of the gate — and admittedly his first year back last year was rough. But I don’t think you’d really find all that much, if any animosity towards Hayward in Boston right now. Nor do I think he has any reason to dislike it here or want out at the expense of $34M
I don’t think Hayward is holding Boston back so much as Jayson Tatum ended up being a superior basketball player much faster than anyone anticipated.
Hayward’s injury accelerated Tatum’s development.
I agree… Hayward’s injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Celtics as it forced Tatum to start in his rookie season and he wound up being far more ready for the NBA than they probably thought. Had Hayward not been injured Tatum probably wouldn’t be the player he is today — at least not yet.
The 34.2 will probably be too hard to walk away from for Gordon considering his recent season ending injury. Say he opts in. Here’s a proposal: Hayward, Memphis first rounder, Milwaukee first rounder, 2020 second rounder
maybe here a idea maybe it wouldnt be about money and maybe he want to go to a different team for a better role. since look at him before boston and with the boston. i think hayward get out shine by other guys. he need to be on a team where he can do his thing. the pacers wouldbr be perfect for him
I could see that. I actually think that’s more plausible than him leaving Boston for money.
Myles Turner and Indiana’s 1st to GS for GS 1st rounder. I think Turner fits into the Iggy trade exception, but if he doesn’t the Warriors could add in Wiggins and the Pacers TJ Warren and a young PG like Aaron Holiday to make the numbers work. I truly believe Turner is the missing piece the Warriors need to dominate once again.
Pacers 2020 First was traded to Bucks
Trade idea
Celtics get Oladipo ，McDermott McConnell
Pacers get Hayward and picks
ok Danny Ainge calm down
We need bigs
substitute Oladipo with Myles Turner.
Absolutely no way Oli leaves Indy that cheaply
Bulls like Oladipo
Trade idea
Bulls get oladipo and Mcdemott
Pacers get Otto Porter
Knicks like Oladipo and will give their entire team to Indiana in return
A lot of teams like Oladipo no way he’s moved for Otto Porter
Oladipo is a top 10 SG easy
In no order it’s Harden Doncic Klay Butler Beal Booker Oladipo Holiday DeRozan McCollum
Otto Porter is an overpaid role player who’s probably not even a top 20 SF really
No way he gives up 34 mill. He may be moved at deadline. Hayward still got game. Not the player he was. He needs to get his confidence back. In right situation he can still start.
1. No way he opts out of $34 million.
2. This is just J. Michael writing a fluff hypothetical piece to get some clicks on the Indy Star website from local fans.
Indy isn’t going to make any major moves this off-season (Btw, it’s really hard to not say “this summer” when talking about the NBA off-season). They will see how the current roster does in the playoffs an into the start of next season. Oladipo was just starting to get back to normal before the break, and the jury is still out on how the projected starting five will do together. I would expect a move around the next trade deadline at the earliest.
Hayward is likely opt out and sign 3 years 74 million contract with Celtics
Pacers get Kevin Love, 2021 Warriors pick, Warriors 6 second rounds picks
Cavs get Wiggins
Warriors get Turner and Warren
Lol
Sign and trade Hayward for Turner.
Celtics get a good young big to protect the rim and shoot threes. Indy gets its man also
Hayward get a deal at about 22 mil per year for 4 years (88 mil total)
He signs for less now due to covid and being able to secure himself good pay for the long term. It is also a little home town discount and he can finish out his career when he was born and raised. Hayward this year compared to Turner averaged 5 more points, 3 more assists and the same amount of rebounds.
Celtics also throw in one of their late first round pick this year (26th)
Turner goes to the Celtics, by Hayward options out of 34mil and Turner being in the books for 18mil they save 16 mil that year which is a great move and worth giving up the first. Turner at 24 also can improve of his rebounding and along with Tatum and Brown as the future of the Celtics. He brings elite rim protection and a stretch 5 to a team which needs a big.
Great deal for Boston in the short term (save money) and long term (younger player) and good for Indy cause of the improved player and getting a first this year when they don’t have one.
This is a podcast out of Boston. On the other hand, the Pacers are not going to leak much, so that’s what there is.
The 2019 Pacer strategy of trading away forwards did not go horribly but is apparently not an answer either, and, Dipo may have lost a bit. However I think they can wait a year to get him as a FA.
If the decision really is Hayward’s to make so his enthusiasm is included, he has:
A) an Indy 4/90 opt-out, 22.5 per, or B) a Boston 1/34 opt-in and hopefully a 3/57 FA signing with whoever, 19 per.
I think he will stay.
Given that, the Celts has no call to make.
Can very easily see Pat Riley giving Hayward a new 4/$100M with his opt out.
Heat stand the best chance of signing him. Betting they are still high on his radar.
Heat are much higher on Danilo Gallinari, who fits much better next to Butler.
Hayward is basically Butler-lite. They need elite shooters, not another playmaker.
Hayward going nowhere with Brad Stevens as his current Coach