Woj: Hayward to Charlotte (4 years, $120 million)

[IDreamCeltics]

New article at The Athletic shines more light on Hayward and Boston. A snippet:

Hayward has long been frustrated with his role in Boston, but not because he resents his coaches or teammates. It’s that he established himself as someone who was going to get plenty of shots and passes to find his rhythm and he succeeds when he can feel his way out through the game. He had a usage rate of over 22 percent in his last five seasons in Utah, with a pinnacle of 27.6 percent in his lone All-Star season in 2016-17. It’s been all the way down to 19 and 21.1 percent, respectively, the past two years. He should expect that number to be a little bit lower on a contending team with a star point guard, but Jayson Tatum’s emergence exacerbated the issue.

If he’s playing his best, staying healthy and winning in Boston, he’ll be happy. But there has been enough tumult in his Boston tenure that Hayward is actively exploring other situations. It doesn’t mean he hates Boston or adamantly wants out. It’s a reasonable middle ground that reflects someone who has worked his whole life to lead a contending team and he wants his chance to do that.

https://theathletic.com/2204873/2020/11/17/gordon-hayward-celtics-james-harden/

Seems like the door isn't all the way shut on a return, but compromises need to be made.

Yep.

Totally unsurprising. 

He should have been traded out of town two seasons ago. 

[celticinorlando]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

[Greengang5]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

You do realize NBA teams runs set plays right? Hayward stood in a corner, Hayward didn't drive hard at times, Hayward over passed at times. Hayward didn't take shots with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  In my mind he played Celtics 80s basketball and just tried to make the right play. That was nice to watch this day and age.

[Roy H.]

Don’t know if this was posted:

The Boston Celtics made a trade offer to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday, but came up short with the Milwaukee Bucks sending Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round picks and two pick swaps. The Celtics have a history of trade offers that came up short leaking to the media.

Boston owns picks Nos. 14, 26 and 30 in Wednesday's draft.

"All day yesterday, the chatter around the league was that the Celtics were offering Gordon Hayward and their three first round picks for Jrue Holiday," said "That was the chatter all day yesterday until the Bucks made the deal. It's not like the Bucks weren't moving against anybody. They weren't bidding against themselves. They had Atlanta too who also wanted Jrue Holiday. There was a bit of a bidding war."

[celticinorlando]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

You do realize NBA teams runs set plays right? Hayward stood in a corner, Hayward didn't drive hard at times, Hayward over passed at times. Hayward didn't take shots with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  In my mind he played Celtics 80s basketball and just tried to make the right play. That was nice to watch this day and age.

He also passed up a ton of good looks.

[BringToughnessBack]

Don’t know if this was posted:

The Boston Celtics made a trade offer to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday, but came up short with the Milwaukee Bucks sending Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round picks and two pick swaps. The Celtics have a history of trade offers that came up short leaking to the media.

Boston owns picks Nos. 14, 26 and 30 in Wednesday's draft.

"All day yesterday, the chatter around the league was that the Celtics were offering Gordon Hayward and their three first round picks for Jrue Holiday," said "That was the chatter all day yesterday until the Bucks made the deal. It's not like the Bucks weren't moving against anybody. They weren't bidding against themselves. They had Atlanta too who also wanted Jrue Holiday. There was a bit of a bidding war."

Well, if true, this is why Hayward deadline was extended. He definitely wants more of a larger role and Danny is trying to get him somewhere that can happen.  Bummer, I think we are better with him.

[Rondo9]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

You do realize NBA teams runs set plays right? Hayward stood in a corner, Hayward didn't drive hard at times, Hayward over passed at times. Hayward didn't take shots with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  In my mind he played Celtics 80s basketball and just tried to make the right play. That was nice to watch this day and age.

He also passed up a ton of good looks.

Or he's keeping the ball moving as per the Celtics offense?

[celticinorlando]

Would not mind him staying. But I am concerned he walks and Boston gets nothing for him. Would be down a good player with only the MLE to replace him with.

[celticinorlando]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

You do realize NBA teams runs set plays right? Hayward stood in a corner, Hayward didn't drive hard at times, Hayward over passed at times. Hayward didn't take shots with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  In my mind he played Celtics 80s basketball and just tried to make the right play. That was nice to watch this day and age.

He also passed up a ton of good looks.

Or he's keeping the ball moving as per the Celtics offense?

There is a point in time where your $34 mill player has to be aggressive and not defer. Sure play within the offense but he didn’t play like he did in Utah. I believe his confidence was very low with the injury.

[GreenWarrior]

I'm looking at this extension as hayward working with danny so we get something in return.

The troubling things about this is all these rumors we've heard were just posturing and hear say and that means there is no deal in place... and that means more maine red claws.

[Rondo9]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

You do realize NBA teams runs set plays right? Hayward stood in a corner, Hayward didn't drive hard at times, Hayward over passed at times. Hayward didn't take shots with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.  In my mind he played Celtics 80s basketball and just tried to make the right play. That was nice to watch this day and age.

He also passed up a ton of good looks.

Or he's keeping the ball moving as per the Celtics offense?

There is a point in time where your $34 mill player has to be aggressive and not defer. Sure play within the offense but he didn’t play like he did in Utah. I believe his confidence was very low with the injury.

So averaging 17-4-4 off excellent efficiency deferring to other All Star players is not being aggressive?

[Roy H.]

The only “lack of aggressiveness” from Hayward that I’ve been disappointed in is his free throw rate.  It’s about half of what it was with the Jazz.  Is that our offense, or is that Gordon being hesitatant to drive because of his ankle?

His shots per possession are fairly similar to where they were in Utah.

[tstorey_97]

Nothing has worked for Hayward since he arrived here. It is nobody's fault, it is just terrible luck. At Butler and Utah he had very good luck in comparison.

At Utah Hayward averaged 1100 FGA/season in his 4 best years before being traded here.

In Boston, for the season's he's been able to play he is at 700FGA/season.

UTAH last three years FGA 15 -- 3.8 APG -- 20.1 PPG
Boston                      FGA 11.3 -- 3.7 APG -- 14.5 PPG

I'm not paid to prepare stats, this just offers what is happening on the court.

My point, he is one of the best shooters in the NBA. In the 2017 playoffs (Utah) he averaged 17 FGA and score 24.1 PPG.

The only way Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics are going to exploit his amazing talent is if he actually SHOOTS the ball. Dribble? Pass? What!? Look at his stats at Utah. His assists go up and the team scores less...it's nuts.

He is a better shooter than anyone else on the floor on either team and we want to talk about his passing??

A playmaker?! Shoot the dang ball!

[BitterJim]

Are people really suggesting that Hayward should be taking shots away from guys like Tatum, Brown, and Walker? I'm a Hayward fan, but he is (and should be) the 4th option. Averaging 17PPG on a usage rate of 21% (both 4th highest on the team) is right where I would expect him to be.

You just aren't gonna have a team with four 20ppg scorers.

[Kuberski33]

There were many instances where Hayward would defer or pass up shots. He was guns shy and timid.

He lacked confidence from the injury so him blaming his usage on anything other than that is ridiculous. We all screamed for him to be more aggressive. That’s all on him.

No, he had teammates that were 'volume shooters'.  And that's the problem with this team - at least from his perspective.  Tatum and Smart shoot too much.  And when they're cold, it hurts the team because neither one stops shooting. You pass to either one on the perimeter and it often never comes back. Then Kemba and Jaylen feel like they're not getting enough shots and they feel like they have to 'get theirs'. 

If I were Hayward, I'd want out of here.