Will the Celtics sign free agent Gordon Hayward?

[jpotter33]

I've always believed the most likely outcome is he goes back to Utah.

People talk up the Brad connection, but that was college.  He's a different player now.  That connection is why he'll give the Celts a chance to pitch him, but I think he's staying in Utah with Gobert, Hood, Rubio, etc.

People really overrate the Jazz. Outside of being healthier, that team isn't getting any better than they were last year, which I think was their pinnacle.

And that puts them at 5th in the West at the very best. GS and SA are leagues above Utah, and both an improved Houston and now OKC are a step above them. They're in that third tier of playoff teams with Portland, Memphis, and now even Minnesota, and you can add a healthy Clippers squad and even Denver if they get Millsap.

Contrast that with Boston, who I think would be right there with Cleveland by adding Hayward and a capable starter at the 4.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

40% stays 30% boston and miami... west is brutal but home, miami has the lifestyle, boston better chances to win...

whats the Miami lifestyle? Melting in the 100 degree summers? Lol. Guy is married with kids. Not sure he's totally not interested in the nightclubs and shootings Miami has

beach versus snow? you tell me?

[hpantazo]

40% stays 30% boston and miami... west is brutal but home, miami has the lifestyle, boston better chances to win...

whats the Miami lifestyle? Melting in the 100 degree summers? Lol. Guy is married with kids. Not sure he's totally not interested in the nightclubs and shootings Miami has

beach versus snow? you tell me?

His wife and kids I would figure would love to live in Miami instead of Boston. It counts.

[jpotter33]

With Rubio in Utah and now Ingles staying, I think Hayward stays with the Jazz and we stay with our youth movement.

The Paul George trade was our big opportunity to convince Hayward and build our contender. We blew it. Our best remaining option is to keep our prospects and picks and build with them.

Rubio is a significant step down from Hill. People don't realize how big of a role Hill was on that team last year. He was just not healthy when needed. As a defensive-oriented team that needs more scoring and shooting, they're going to really miss his scoring and shooting, which Rubio won't provide.

[Kuberski33]

Hope I'm wrong but I'm thinking he stays in Utah.  It's a decent organization, team is on the ascent and should make the playoffs even though they have zero chance of winning the west.  And they can pay him more. 

The only thing in Boston's favor is the possibility of having a team that has a chance to contend for a title during the prime years of his career.  And that of course is more likely to happen if he's on the team.

However I also think winning championships matters more to fans than players.

[celticinorlando]

I just want Tatum and Brown to get regular, meaningful minutes this year. Because without George, Butler, Hayward, etc...those guys are your building blocks.

[Phantom255x]

Let's be honest.

If Hayward chooses Miami over Boston solely because of weather and no snow... Then did we ever really have a chance?

Hell, why would Hayward even waste his time scheduling a meeting with Boston in that case.

It's not like he needs to come visit Boston to know that winters are cold here and all..

[trickybilly]

Now that Ingles is staying in Utah, and if Hayward is fine with Rubio (even with Hill LIKELY leaving)... I'm leaning towards him staying in Utah.

JUST PLEASE, NOT RILEY AND MIAMI...

Thats interesting. To me, Rubio and Ingles looked like moves that would please Hayward.

Maybe they knew Hill was gone..

If he does go to Miami, can we trade for Big Rudy?

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

40% stays 30% boston and miami... west is brutal but home, miami has the lifestyle, boston better chances to win...

whats the Miami lifestyle? Melting in the 100 degree summers? Lol. Guy is married with kids. Not sure he's totally not interested in the nightclubs and shootings Miami has

beach versus snow? you tell me?

His wife and kids I would figure would love to live in Miami instead of Boston. It counts.

his wife likes miami. we better pull out all the stops if we want him.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Hope I'm wrong but I'm thinking he stays in Utah.  It's a decent organization, team is on the ascent and should make the playoffs even though they have zero chance of winning the west.  And they can pay him more. 

The only thing in Boston's favor is the possibility of having a team that has a chance to contend for a title during the prime years of his career.  And that of course is more likely to happen if he's on the team.

However I also think winning championships matters more to fans than players.

i will bet he does not stay in utah. he is miami or boston bound.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I just want Tatum and Brown to get regular, meaningful minutes this year. Because without George, Butler, Hayward, etc...those guys are your building blocks.

even if we get GH we need Jb and JT to get playing time. do we let JB back up GH? or play him at 2 and 3? do we play JT at the 4? technically that gives us 3 small forwards if we get GH.

[unclebay]

'Shootings'? Lol, Mattapan is worse than anything Miami has to offer.

40% stays 30% boston and miami... west is brutal but home, miami has the lifestyle, boston better chances to win...

whats the Miami lifestyle? Melting in the 100 degree summers? Lol. Guy is married with kids. Not sure he's totally not interested in the nightclubs and shootings Miami has

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

Hope I'm wrong but I'm thinking he stays in Utah.  It's a decent organization, team is on the ascent and should make the playoffs even though they have zero chance of winning the west.  And they can pay him more. 

The only thing in Boston's favor is the possibility of having a team that has a chance to contend for a title during the prime years of his career.  And that of course is more likely to happen if he's on the team.

However I also think winning championships matters more to fans than players.

i will bet he does not stay in utah. he is miami or boston bound.

Yeah I think that writing is on the wall, he's getting out of the western conference.

[hwangjini_1]

40% stays 30% boston and miami... west is brutal but home, miami has the lifestyle, boston better chances to win...

whats the Miami lifestyle? Melting in the 100 degree summers? Lol. Guy is married with kids. Not sure he's totally not interested in the nightclubs and shootings Miami has

beach versus snow? you tell me?

for me, give me snow. and the seasons. the fall in new england is stunning with its beauty. the first snow fall of the year is gorgeous. clouds and rain give a respite from unrelenting sun and heat.

i am currently in a place with a famous beach, sun 12 months a year and temperatures never below freezing and rarely below 60 degrees.

no snow. no rain to speak of. no clouds. no fall colors. no snow sports. no break. no change....except for the hurricanes every so often. 

it
is
the
same
every
single
day

to be honest, for me, and i know some of others here who share this opinion, at first it is a bit of a novelty. then it becomes tedious to know that each day is virtually the same as yesterday, all the time. heat, mosquitoes year round, and more heat but with humidity.

hayward may like that. but not everyone does.

next, as for the snow of boston, does anyone here think hayward is going to be shoveling his own driveway? or putting lawn chairs on the street to save a parking place? nope. instead, he will have a heated garage, and plowing done for him.

again, hayward may love sweating year round on the beach and hiring babysitters so he and his wife can go clubbing. (let's face it, what does "miami culture" mean to a married guy who is a homebody such as hayward?) if so, that may help sway him towards miami.

but then, he may be the sort of person who prefers changes in his weather and the beauty of the four seasons. i dont think we know for sure either way.

so, when is he supposed to finally make his [dang]ed decision? i am soooo tired of waiting. this off season and playoffs have been exhausting. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Hope I'm wrong but I'm thinking he stays in Utah.  It's a decent organization, team is on the ascent and should make the playoffs even though they have zero chance of winning the west.  And they can pay him more. 

The only thing in Boston's favor is the possibility of having a team that has a chance to contend for a title during the prime years of his career.  And that of course is more likely to happen if he's on the team.

However I also think winning championships matters more to fans than players.

i will bet he does not stay in utah. he is miami or boston bound.

Yeah I think that writing is on the wall, he's getting out of the western conference.

agreed