5 teams that got worse during 2020 NBA free agency

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BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 30: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for a rebound while guarded by Daniel Theis #27 and Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics during a game at TD Garden on November 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

3. Boston Celtics

Long live Boston Celtics team president Danny Ainge, the king of the almost-trade.

When Gordon Hayward declined his $34.2 player option to become a free agent, it appeared as though he’d be headed to the Indiana Pacers in a sign-and-trade. Minutes before free agency began, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Hayward “wants to sign a deal with the Pacers,” who were his “preferred destination.”

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, the Pacers offered Myles Turner and Doug McDermott to the Celtics in exchange for Hayward, but Ainge wanted Turner with either T.J. Warren or Victor Oladipo instead. J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star reported the Pacers offered “Turner, a first-round pick and a rotation player” for Hayward, although Ainge refused to bite.

Instead, Hayward wound up signing a four-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, leaving the Celtics empty-handed. Ainge turned it into a sign-and-trade at the eleventh hour, sending 2023 and 2024 second-round picks to the Hornets to create an NBA-record $28.5 million trade exception, but there’s no guarantee the Celtics will use it on someone better than the Pacers’ proposed Turner-McDermott package.

The Celtics did add Tristan Thompson with their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to bolster their frontcourt, and snagging Jeff Teague on a one-year minimum deal is a great value signing, particularly given the shaky status of Kemba Walker‘s left knee. However, Hayward’s departure looks like an own-goal for Ainge until we see how (or if) the Celtics wind up using the trade exception they generated in that sign-and-trade.

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