Gordon Hayward will return to the Disney World campus on Sunday night, but coach Brad Stevens doesn’t expect him to play “anytime soon,” the Celtics announced on Twitter.
Hayward, who has been sidelined since suffering a Grade III ankle sprain in Boston’s playoff opener, will have to quarantine for at least four days once he arrives. He was given a four- to six-week prognosis when the injury occurred, which was nearly three weeks ago. Stevens offered an update on Hayward earlier this week, saying he feels “a little bit better.”
Hayward has also informed the team that he plans to leave the campus when his wife gives birth to their fourth child sometime this month, so he may not play before departing again.
The ankle sprain is the latest in a series of injury frustrations Hayward has experienced since signing with the Celtics. He was in the midst of his best season since 2016/17, averaging 17.7 points, a career-high 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 52 games.
If the Celtics need Hayward for a game 6/7 then that would be a hugeee boost for them.
Then if they could get him back for the Heat or NBA final that would also be a huge boost.
But even without a key player I love how they have been playing. Think having a great coach is such an underrated advantage in today’s game and the Celtics with Brad Stevens at coach is also huge.
Toronto has one too. How many other coaches could have done what Nurse did this season after Kawhi went to the Clippers?
It sucks that his wife’s birth seems like it’s going to Line up exactly with when he otherwise would be able to return. Who knows maybe he’ll/we’ll get lucky and it’ll come before… but it sounds like it’s literally going to coincide pretty much exactly when he otherwise would be ready to play. I don’t blame him for wanting to leave to be with his wife (and it’s not even like he didn’t plan it well — in a “normal year” this would be the off-season) it just sucks for the Celtics who could really use him back after the devastating 0.5 second loss the other night — and now their (horrible 3-pt shooting night) loss to knock then back to 2-2. They still (other than tonight’s shooting) have looked good… and really have looked better than the Raptors, even without Hayward, so hopefully they can wind up winning the series — and it looks like they’re going to get “lucky” in that the Heat are going to beat MIL — and I think the C’s matchup much better vs the Heat than the Bucks so… fingers crossed I think they’ve got a really good shot of making it to the finals… just would be nice to get Hayward back sooner rather than later! Because without him their bench/depth is really thin… but with him back and Smart moving back to the bench they really become a much deeper team!
No need to miss playoff time to pet a baby, but I think in normal years it would have been timed to miss training camp. Which may be ideal for a veteran! I would say smart play, wife, except for the covid attack.
Hayward: We’re having a baby right around playoff time.
Tor Eckman: You two would have been well-advised to wait.
Even if you haven’t truly earned your contract yet, I guess when $34MM salaries are guaranteed and you also have an opt-in waiting for next year strong wives can put their foot down and insist that you be there for the birth of your fourth child.
Maybe it’s time to part ways with Hayward. If we trade him to the Pacers we can get the big man (Myles Turner) we need. Then next year Hayward can be closer to home for the birth of his fifth child.