Since the Cleveland Cavaliers have been sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference since the return of LeBron James, it has only been a question each year of who is going to take the East’s silver medal and face elimination in the conference finals. This is largely a testament to the skill and depth of the Cavs roster, paired with the majority of talent being pulled out West, making the East seem the significantly weaker conference.
This could however all change with one move that would send shockwaves across the league. Since passing on Paul George and Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, it is reported that the Celtics are pursuing Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward. In waiting until
free agency to make a move, Boston are not forced to give up any draft picks through trading, bolstering their future potential with high picks in the next two drafts.
Acquiring Gordon Hayward for nothing but salary cap seems a perfect move for the Celtics, whos wing spot is one that has needed improving for the past few years. This does however mean that current starting small forward Jae Crowder would have to make way for the signing. In a recent game against Utah in which Celtics fans cheered each time Hayward touched the ball, Crowder was quoted after the game saying: “I didn’t like that at all, it’s disrespectful of the fans.”
With the Jazz currently in the fourth seed in the West, it may be difficult to pry the All-Star forward away from the team that drafted him. Although, several factors may attract him to the historically big market team. The first of which being head coach Brad Stevens who has a history coaching Hayward, giving the two a good relationship. As Hayward has improved statistically across every category each year in the league, the 27-year-old is the type of player every coach wants on his team, so it would be unsurprising for Stevens to reach out to Hayward to lure him to Boston in the summer.
Another major pull for Hayward will be his vastly improved chances at playoff success. The Celtics currently sit just a half game back from the number one-seeded Cavs, meaning that his 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game could well push them over the top and buy him a ticket to the finals should he choose to move away from the stacked Western Conference.
It is impossible to tell what will happen this off-season as any GM in the league who can afford him will be hoping to coax him to their team. All we can do is wait.
HoopsTunedIn 