Our pummeling at the hands of the Cavs may have gotten us Hayward

[hpantazo]

From today's Boston Globe interview of Hayward's father. Apparently Hayward didn't want to join a team ready to win it all, like the GSW. Watching us get pummeled by the Cavs was a factor in convincing him to join the Celtics:

"Hayward wanted to go somewhere where an NBA championship was possible, but he had no interest in a ready-made situation, such as the one Kevin Durant entered when he signed with the Warriors last summer.

Hayward Sr. said that if the Celtics had defeated the Cavaliers in the conference finals, his son would have been less interested. But it was clear watching them get pummeled by LeBron James that they needed help, and perhaps he could provide it."

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/07/11/behind-scenes-look-gordon-hayward-decision/JphxlshDcZua7N03Qlm07M/story.html

[max215]

I was just coming here to post a link to his article. I would encourage all to read the piece, as there's MUCH more to it than this quote; it's a great read.

[hpantazo]

I was just coming here to post a link to his article. I would encourage all to read the piece, as there's MUCH more to it than this quote; it's a great read.

Yeah, it's a great article. Lots of insight into why Hayward chose us, what he saw in the Heat , and what he didn't particularly care about from the Celtics sales pitch (i.e. Fenway Park). The Celtics new practice facility, and Stevens improvement as a coach from he last time Hayward played for him, were apparently big factors.

[jpotter33]

Interesting.

But it makes sense. The same thing happened with Durant and Golden State, though for different reasons. It's long been rumored that Durant would've been a Celtic if Golden State would've actually won in 2016, since he wouldn't have been able to join the two-time reigning champ and best regular season team ever.

At least Hayward has character and pride still and didn't want things handed to him on a silver platter, unlike that coward Durant joining a 73 win team.  The Durant criticism probably played a role in this factor, too.

[Roy H.]

I'm skeptical. If we'd taken the Cavs to seven, or made the Finals, I suspect that Hayward would still be here.

[SparzWizard]

What a classy move by Gordon Hayward.
Did not want to pull a Kevin Durant ala joining a 73-9 NBA team after getting beat by them.

Obviously Boston was his best choice- a slew of draft picks to assist them in the long-run, already have IT4 and Horford, and they need help getting past Cleveland. Plus, CBS connection.

[SparzWizard]

I'm skeptical. If we'd taken the Cavs to seven, or made the Finals, I suspect that Hayward would still be here.

There was no way the Celtics would have beaten LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, J.R Smith, and Tristan Thompson in the East Finals. The first two games showed it. The third game definitely helped gave us hope that free agents would consider Boston after a strong-showing without IT4. Game 4 the Celtics were just out of gas. Game 5 was the killing blow, but a nice ironic end at the TD Garden; Celtics fans showing pride despite the loss.

[KG Living Legend]

 Can someone please post the full article. I won't login to the Globe.

[Snakehead]

I'm skeptical. If we'd taken the Cavs to seven, or made the Finals, I suspect that Hayward would still be here.

Yeah tough to say that for sure and I think it's something his dad might say. 

There's such a difference anyways between that and the Warriors Durant thing, which is so overkill.  That team was the favorite for years and won 73 games.

[tazzmaniac]

I'm skeptical. If we'd taken the Cavs to seven, or made the Finals, I suspect that Hayward would still be here.

I'm skeptical too but it is a good PR move.  I think IT getting injured and eventually shutdown actually helped.  If IT had been healthy and we'd still gotten drubbed by the Cavs in 5, Hayward might not have come. 

[timpiker]

Great article.  Told the pic story to my wife and teared up

[BitterJim]

I'm skeptical. If we'd taken the Cavs to seven, or made the Finals, I suspect that Hayward would still be here.

Yeah. It's easy to say we wouldn't have come here if we beat the Cavs when there's absolutely no way of proving the opposite. It's a nice sentiment, but nothing more.

[CelticsElite]

Reminds me of what Larry bird said about the lebron heat big 3:

http://nesn.com/2010/07/michael-jordan-magic-johnson-remind-us-how-much-sports-have-changed/

"I remember back in my days, I'd rather play against Earvin Johnson than play with him," Bird said last week. "He's a guy I always compared myself to. I'd rather stay in Boston and let him stay in L.A. and just compete every year in the Finals. That's what made me a better player. "It would have been too easy if we had played together," Bird added.

That bird mentality will make him play better

[tazzmaniac]

I was just coming here to post a link to his article. I would encourage all to read the piece, as there's MUCH more to it than this quote; it's a great read.

Yeah, it's a great article. Lots of insight into why Hayward chose us, what he saw in the Heat , and what he didn't particularly care about from the Celtics sales pitch (i.e. Fenway Park). The Celtics new practice facility, and Stevens improvement as a coach from he last time Hayward played for him, were apparently big factors.

Don't have a subscription.  Can you summarize what he saw in the Heat?   

Not surprised about our pitch.  The Fenway park stuff seemed rather lame and tertiary.  I've seen several articles about the Sixers new practice facility which they've been using since the fall and how much it is helping them.  I hadn't seen anything about the Celtics new training facility.  An article I just found stated it would open in Spring 2018.  Is that still accurate?   

[obnoxiousmime]

In a year we won't need Gordon to beat the Cavs!