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NBA Rumors: Celtics looking to land both Paul George and Gordon Hayward

By David Austin Bumpus

Mar 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) greets Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) after the irgame at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Utah 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) greets Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) after the irgame at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Utah 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics have been rumored to land either Paul George or Gordon Hayward this offseason — but what about both?

The Boston Celtics are already in a good spot in the Eastern Conference with their current lineup. They locked up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and went all the way to the Conference Finals on the back of Isaiah Thomas and a decent bench. It wasn’t enough, though, to get past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, something that adding Paul George or Gordon Hayward to their roster might rectify.

Boston has been collectively rumored to be going after either George or Hayward for over a year now but it’s alway been a one or the other. Not anymore, apparently.

According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics have been working on “sequencing” deals for Hayward and George this offseason. The team wants a commitment from Hayward first before they try and pursue a trade with the Indiana Pacers for George, and need to figure out the salary cap implications of acquiring both stars.

Boston has long been in the running to land Hayward, and they’re arguably the top landing spot for him this summer. Meanwhile, George has been rumored to be going everywhere from Los Angeles to Cleveland,  but his coast-to-coast interest might see him end up in Boston when the dust settles.

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Signing Hayward and trading for George would be huge for the Celtics, full stop. It would instantly propel them to serious contenders to dethrone the Cavaliers in the East and potentially the Warriors overall. A lineup of Hayward, George, Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford is stupid good, then you get to guys like Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown.

It’s a giant if, but the Celtics would be absolutely loaded if they can pull this off. A lot needs to happen but Boston staying at the front of the rumor race seems to suggest that something is going to happen in the coming days that might cause a seismic shift in the East.

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