NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 potential destinations for Gordon Hayward
By John Buhler
Boston Celtics
East, Atlantic
If Hayward does end up leaving the Jazz, the one team that he has been linked to the most has to be the Boston Celtics. Boston will have the cap space to offer him a four-year max or something near it. Hayward would be reunited with this former college coach Brad Stevens. He would also get to play with other high-level players like point guard Isaiah Thomas and center Al Horford.
Frankly, Boston is the best landing spot for Hayward to contend for an NBA title in 2018. Boston is arguably the second-best team in the Eastern Conference already, but is close to usurping the Cleveland Cavaliers atop the East. Hayward to the Celtics could be enough to get Boston over the top. From there, it’s all about how well the Celtics match up with the Golden State Warriors or whomever comes out of the West.
The money will be good, the coaching will be excellent, the team will be solid and the fanbase will be rabid. In most instances, this would be a no-brainer move for Hayward to make. However, he will be assuming borderline ridiculous expectations the instant he would sign with the Celtics.
Does Boston realize that Hayward is just an excellent three and not the second coming of Larry Bird? The Ghost of Larry Bird already resides in the Bay Area and his name is Kevin Durant. In short, Hayward has to be part of a core that brings another championship in the next three years for him signing there to be a success. Should he come up short, he could be labelled a scapegoat in the vein that Bob McAdoo was many years ago.