Gordon Hayward Will Prioritize Competing For Title As Free Agent

[Smartacus]

Gordon Hayward said he will prioritize contending for a title as a free agent this offseason.

Hayward will surely have several max contract offers on the open market while the Utah Jazz can offer ore money and an extra guaranteed season.

The Jazz want to get healthy and demonstrate to Hayward that they have a nucleus capable of competing for a title.

"It comes down to where I can compete for a title," he said. "Where I live -- that doesn't affect me. The limelight doesn't matter to me. I just want to make a run at it."

ZACH LOWE/ESPN

Interesting sentiments by Hayward. The indiference to where he lives part is probably most intriguing from a Boston perspective.

Hayword would be a strong fit next to Horford. We have a bit of ball handling gap between Isaiah and Horford that I feel like Hayward would slot right into. We're also on the cusp of adding another top draft pick to our roster and are scratching at the door of contention.

Would Gordon Hayward and Markelle Fultz get you to undisputed second in the East?
Hayward and Jason Tatum?
Hayward and Jonathan Issac?

Reunite Hayward and Stevens. Jumping on that '17 bus.

[chilidawg]

Hayward.  Come on, you ought to be able to spell the name of the guy you're writing a thread about.

[Smartacus]

Hayward.  Come on, you ought to be able to spell the name of the guy you're writing a thread about.

What you didn't hear about the name change? Man, I was convinced for a long time that it was Haywood. Suppose I still want him on the team even though he clearly can't spell his name correctly.

TP. Thanks for the call out. Editing original response. Sorry about that everybody.

[Monkhouse]

Oh man, oh man, oh man.

I cannot wait till people start complaining about how we maxed out Hayward, and he's not performing up to said expectations. 

I would pass.

Only if we could get someone like Cousins. A big 3 of Cousins, Hayward, and Horford/IT would be an excellent team full of scorers/ball handlers/playmakers.

I still consider Horford an underrated free agent. Yes for 26 million, it is a lot. But it was predicated based on the market, and Horford is worth every penny considering how seamlessly he fits into our team. As much as Stevens has an binkie for Hayward, is he really going to be that great of a scorer to make up for his weaknesses on defense, and as a 2nd/3rd or even go to scorer, is he better than IT?

[RJ87]

I'd LOVE to have Hayward. He's a super underrated player. Can score, handle the ball, solid defensively. Very unselfish. I'd be happy to pair him with Horford.

[blink]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

[Monkhouse]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

Hayward is getting going to get maxed out.

I have no interest in giving him that.

He's an excellent complimentary player, but he's a 3rd/2nd option in any championship team.

Try to shoot for PG13 or DMC if I was Ainge.

[mef730]

What do we do with Jae and Jaylen and Gordon? You can trade one, but you're not going to get value for them, since it will be seen as a "forced" trade.

Mike

[Phantom255x]

Two Problems I see:

1. Hayward doesn't thread the needle for us, and it would be a mistake to give him a max-deal (and then lose all our cap space while also not having a legitimate contender). Also, Bradley, Crowder and Brown are on the team. What happens to their minutes?

2. Utah is doing well right now and I believe are in the playoff race. Reality is, they can also offer Hayward the extra year + extra $$$. I know Hayward mentioned he doesn't care where he goes to live, but I'm sure Utah will prioritize Hayward a ton and if they keep playing well, he may decide to stay. Like Blake Griffin, I expect Hayward to stay with his current team, limiting the FA options for Boston next summer.

[blink]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

Hayward is getting going to get maxed out.

I have no interest in giving him that.

He's an excellent complimentary player, but he's a 3rd/2nd option in any championship team.

Try to shoot for PG13 or DMC if I was Ainge.

That is kind of how I feel.  But I honestly don't watch enough of his games to completely judge if he is worth the max.  I know he is an excellent player, but we have a good player on our team right now at the exact position Hayward plays.  And he (Jae) has a much lower salary cap hit.  Just not sure if it would be worth it.

It seems like we are in the same place we have been for a number of years, we are still missing our franchise player.  I know IT gets mentioned as that, but I don't see him as that as good as he is.  We have a lot of the complimentary pieces already, we need a big dog somehow.

[slightly biased bias fan]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

Hayward is getting going to get maxed out.

I have no interest in giving him that.

He's an excellent complimentary player, but he's a 3rd/2nd option in any championship team.

Try to shoot for PG13 or DMC if I was Ainge.

That is kind of how I feel.  But I honestly don't watch enough of his games to completely judge if he is worth the max.  I know he is an excellent player, but we have a good player on our team right now at the exact position Hayward plays.  And he (Jae) has a much lower salary cap hit.  Just not sure if it would be worth it.

It seems like we are in the same place we have been for a number of years, we are still missing our franchise player.  I know IT gets mentioned as that, but I don't see him as that as good as he is.  We have a lot of the complimentary pieces already, we need a big dog somehow.

I would def do it if Hayward committed to the Celtics, took a small pay-cut & Crowder was wanted by the Kings.

I don't know why people have started talking about a trade for PG13, IF he asked for a trade it would be for a kings ransom that would be a step backwards but he isn't going to be traded as Bird has made it known that he isn't interested in a rebuild and George is contracted to Pacers until 2019 so the point is mute.

[blink]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

Hayward is getting going to get maxed out.

I have no interest in giving him that.

He's an excellent complimentary player, but he's a 3rd/2nd option in any championship team.

Try to shoot for PG13 or DMC if I was Ainge.

That is kind of how I feel.  But I honestly don't watch enough of his games to completely judge if he is worth the max.  I know he is an excellent player, but we have a good player on our team right now at the exact position Hayward plays.  And he (Jae) has a much lower salary cap hit.  Just not sure if it would be worth it.

It seems like we are in the same place we have been for a number of years, we are still missing our franchise player.  I know IT gets mentioned as that, but I don't see him as that as good as he is.  We have a lot of the complimentary pieces already, we need a big dog somehow.

I would def do it if Hayward committed to the Celtics, took a small pay-cut & Crowder was wanted by the Kings.

I don't know why people have started talking about a trade for PG13, IF he asked for a trade it would be for a kings ransom that would be a step backwards but he isn't going to be traded as Bird has made it known that he isn't interested in a rebuild and George is contracted to Pacers until 2019 so the point is mute.

But what would be a small discount for Hayward?  I really don't know.

Is that assuming a larger trade where stuff + Jae goes to Sac for Boogie?

[Phantom255x]

Guys.. in a league where Conley got a max-deal (30M+/Year), and Mozgov got 4/64M after sitting in the bench 80% of the time the season before... OF COURSE Hayward is getting the max.

People actually think max-caliber players will take "pay-cuts" now? Maybe Hayward isn't really worth the max, but Horford isn't either, and same with others in the league who have a max-deal right now, but that's how the market is now.

[Smartacus]

What does everyone think that Hayward will get salary wise?  Does that end our search for an alpha dog?  I like Hayward, but he seems more like a complimentary player to me.  He has increased his numbers just about every year, so is this another max player? 

Does he push Jae to a bench-super sub role, or would we be trading Jae?  Lots of questions if we are serious about going after Hayward.

Hayward is getting going to get maxed out.

I have no interest in giving him that.

He's an excellent complimentary player, but he's a 3rd/2nd option in any championship team.

Try to shoot for PG13 or DMC if I was Ainge.

Don't see them as viable options personally. I'm pretty bird in the hand with Hayward.  *Still sounds wrong to me* 

If you sign Hayward and the draft pick comes in even remotley NBA ready all it would take is one more crucial trade before we're scraping GS territory in terms of talent at every spot in the rotation.

There isn't really anyone on our current roster who I wouldn't part with. If picking up Haward means trading one of Crowder, Bradley, Smart, Rozier, Brown as long as the return for that player is in the ball park in value at a less redundant position we'd still easily come out as a better team

He's going to command the max because he's earned the max. You can't necessarily resist making a move for the roster because it would mean you'd need to change its structure, talent acuistion is a fluid process.

[jambr380]

I'll use the same logic I did with Horford last year:

Utah currently is about the same as us with them having Hayward and us not. Maybe he will realize how much better we will be than Utah with us with him and Utah without.

It worked with Horford and Atl...right?