Bill Simmons C's interest in Hayward (Speculation more so than Rumor)

[chambers]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

[Evantime34]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I think Hayward is big enough to play the three and I would take him over Jeff Green in a heartbeat.

[Fafnir]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I think Hayward is big enough to play the three and I would take him over Jeff Green in a heartbeat.

I think the issue is that he's best at SG where he has a size advantage.

[pearljammer10]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I think Hayward is big enough to play the three and I would take him over Jeff Green in a heartbeat.

I think the issue is that he's best at SG where he has a size advantage.

Yes I would much rather see him at SG than SF. Like PJ was talking about during the OKC broadcast the other night. OKC is very very good and one of the reason is Presti building that team around length. Can never have too much length in a lineup.

[Vox_Populi]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I think Hayward is big enough to play the three and I would take him over Jeff Green in a heartbeat.

I think the issue is that he's best at SG where he has a size advantage.

Yes I would much rather see him at SG than SF. Like PJ was talking about during the OKC broadcast the other night. OKC is very very good and one of the reason is Presti building that team around length. Can never have too much length in a lineup.

Indiana too. All their players' have loooong arms.

[sahara]

Just because of the Butler connection??
I don't buy it.

And he's white. C's fans love white players almost as much as Utah fans do.

I´m sorry but I have to say something, because it bothers me.

I have been following your posts a lot for a while and I really enjoy your witty and insighful comments about the team and the game in general.

But what is up with obsession about the race?

This is about the fifth racial remark from you in a short while.

[aporel#18]

Just because of the Butler connection??
I don't buy it.

And he's white. C's fans love white players almost as much as Utah fans do.

I´m sorry but I have to say something, because it bothers me.

I have been following your posts a lot for a while and I really enjoy your witty and insighful comments about the team and the game in general.

But what is up with obsession about the race?

This is about the fifth racial remark from you in a short while.

I think D.o.s. forgot green font.

In other similar "news" or "rumors", Danny Ainge may make a big move this summer to get his nephew Ryan Toolson who is playing for green-jersey Unicaja Málaga right now. Their connection is even better than Coach Stevens-Hayward.

There's also a chance for Ainge to try to sign Jaycee Carroll, a guy who is mormon (Ainge connection again) and whose shot has been compared to Ray Allen's. The fact that it was Kyle Singler when he joined Caroll's team who made that comparison doesn't take away any reality from it.

Seriously, I'd rather pay 8-9M a year to Bradley than 11-12 to Gordon Hayward, but that's me.

[Eddie20]

This was yesterday and coincidentally, or not, Ford brought up the C's.

Chase (Utah)
With Gordon Hayward playing well, could you see the Jazz not wanting to pay a max deal and moving him at the trade deadline for more assets?


Chad Ford  (1:14 PM)
No. I think they knew this was a possibility with Hayward. Given how well he's playing, I don't think they'll be afraid to match any offer. Hayward doesn't mind playing in Utah if he's paid. If other teams like the Celtics are willing to offer him a ton of money, he's worth that to Utah too.

[D.o.s.]

Just because of the Butler connection??
I don't buy it.

And he's white. C's fans love white players almost as much as Utah fans do.

I´m sorry but I have to say something, because it bothers me.

I have been following your posts a lot for a while and I really enjoy your witty and insighful comments about the team and the game in general.

But what is up with obsession about the race?

This is about the fifth racial remark from you in a short while.

I think D.o.s. forgot green font.

If that's the silly/sarcastic font, then yeah, I did. That was about 75% silliness.

I do happen to think that Boston's racial history, along with the decidedly-more forward thinking nature of the Celtics organization over the last 50 years, makes for a very entertaining mixture. I'd also say that a player like, say, Scals, wouldn't have been nearly the cult hero that he is/was if he had never played for Boston. And there's something worth thinking about wrapped up inside that, and that's something that would carry over, accurately or not, to Gordon Hayward. I have no doubt he'd be a future winner of the "Does the most with his limited athletic ability" GM poll question.

[indeedproceed]

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[indeedproceed]

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[chambers]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I think Hayward is big enough to play the three and I would take him over Jeff Green in a heartbeat.

That's great that you'd take him over Jeff Green. It still doesn't mean either one is the answer to banner 18.
I can't envision a team with Gordon Hayward as it's starting SG or SF on 10 million a year winning any title.

I'd personally take Lance Stephenson over Hayward any day- and they'll be looking at similar money.

[tyrone biggums]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I hate this rumor. Heyward is overrated here. So are players like Tyreke, Jimmer etc...They need to build a team with defensive identity in mind. Heyward doesn't help that at all. Now I could deal with this IF he was a prolific scorer, but he's not. I'm not saying he isn't good, he is. However a max player he is not. Id rather take a run at Melo and if the C's miss out on him then wait until next year. As far as Stephenson goes, I'd be much more inclined to keep Bradley going forward. Probably one of the best defensive guards in the league.

[chambers]

I would be so upset if this actually happened.
I don't buy it for a second and there is just nothing about this kid that even sniffs 'championship caliber' player.
Seriously what title team is this guy playing on when his salary is likely to be around the 10-12 million mark?

Also, doesn't this mean Avery Bradley is gone?
I just can't see how someone like Ainge doesn't pick making a splash at Lance Stephenson ahead of going after Hayward.

I hate this rumor. Heyward is overrated here. So are players like Tyreke, Jimmer etc...They need to build a team with defensive identity in mind. Heyward doesn't help that at all. Now I could deal with this IF he was a prolific scorer, but he's not. I'm not saying he isn't good, he is. However a max player he is not. Id rather take a run at Melo and if the C's miss out on him then wait until next year. As far as Stephenson goes, I'd be much more inclined to keep Bradley going forward. Probably one of the best defensive guards in the league.

I agree with you 100% on Hayward. Totally over rated for what he brings to the court. He's just not 'great' at anything.

As far as Stephenson vs Bradley goes, there's no comparison for me.
Stephenson is the same age as Bradley and to me has far more upside. He's also bigger, stronger and has better passing and ball handling skills. Bradley's hitting 45% of his shots at 13.3 shots per game and Stephenson is hitting 49% of his shots in 11.3 attempts a game. Stephenson has legitimate NBA Shooting guard size at 6 feet 5 and has the ability to become an NBA superstar. I can't see Avery getting much better than he is now given his lack of dribbling ability and size.

Stephenson has the potential to become the number one or two option on a contender. Bradley is at best the 6th man on a championship team IMO. I love Avery, but Stephenson is a far better prospect and player overall.