Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has turned down the $34.2MM player option on his contract for 2020/21 and will become an unrestricted free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
While Hayward won’t be able to match the $34.2MM salary he would have earned if he has simply opted in, his decision signals that he’s confident he’ll be able to secure a multiyear deal that features a far larger overall guarantee. Al Horford took this path with the Celtics a year ago, turning down a $30MM option to sign a four-year contract that guaranteed him $97MM.
While Horford left Boston, there’s no guarantee that Hayward will do so. The Celtics hold his Bird rights and still have the ability to sign him to a new long-term contract. However, it sounds like they’ll face plenty of competition for his services. The Hawks and Knicks – the two clubs with the most cap room in the NBA – have both been linked to the veteran forward.
A sign-and-trade is also a possibility, so teams over the cap could be in play for Hayward as well. As Marc Stein of The New York Times tweets, the Pacers – who have been frequently linked to the Indiana native – have explored potentially trading for him.
Hayward, 30, still didn’t quite look like his old All-Star self in 2019/20, but he was a lot closer than in his first two seasons in Boston. In 52 games this year, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .500/.383/.855 shooting. His size and play-making ability will make him a popular target in free agency.
Shame on Danny Ainge and the Celtics for not getting anything for Hayward. I’d be okay with a change in GM at this point. Tatum and Brown aside, all these draft picks have been wasted.
I mean, now they have Hayward’s money to spend elsewhere. Too soon to rush to judgment. What the Celtics really needed last year was more depth. If Ainge plays his cards right, they’ll have that now. If he doesn’t? Sure, throw him to the wolves.
They are over the cap, so they do not have them. But GH and the celts could still negotiate a new contract.
True, I checked it out and they just get the mid level it seems. Ok…fire Ainge. Ha.
Yeah, not the case, Celtics just can’t seem to get over that hump from really good to actual contender.
True…but given cap constraints that doesn’t necessarily open up $34M to spend
Lots of guys out there the Celtics are in play on now Harrell, Gallanari, Grant, Wood, Ibaka, they all fit a need for the Celtics more than Hayward.
I does however get them back under the luxury tax threshold so they won’t be stuck paying a large tax bill in 2021.
Seems like Boston has had more draft capital than anyone over the last several years and nothing much to show for it. GMs have been fired for less. They’re kinda like the Cleveland Browns except competitive in the regular season.
You’re right since they didnt win the finals last year they should blow up and start over. Any more lessons from GM school university of your couch?
I mean it takes at least two teams to make a trade. Just because the Celtics might’ve wanted to get rid of him, doesn’t mean another team wanted him at his price. I mean you’re talking matching salaries, finding compensation, and then getting assurances from Hayward that at the very least he would pick up his player option, if not re-sign. At his salary, you’re talking at least one big contract going the other way (plus potential filler contracts). Hayward’s player option was basically a NTC, he could not pick it up and prevent the trade if he didn’t want to go to where ever he was being shipped off to.
Man, they couldn’t trade Hayward unless he opted in. Screw Hayward for dragging his rear. Celtics were plenty patient with his rehab and return, his “too scared to play full out”. Hayward was too much of a sissy to be the man in Utah ffs. If the Hayward for Drummond rumors were true but Hayward didnt want to go to a rebuild then when he ends up on the Knicks or Hawks hes gonna feel stupid.
Comparing him to Al Horford is on point, except Horford was playing at a peak level before he got his 4 year contract. Hayward should have stayed in Boston or gave back to the C’s for sticking with him. I get it was a big injury to come back from, and people hate Boston, but they treated Hayward good. Hopefully GMs hear the Horford comparisons and he only gets a one year. If Porzingis and Dipo have to prove their healthy then what’s Hayward? Hes healed and vocally admits he plays scared.
Player had all the leverage anyway. And to think some absolutely batshit stupid Celtic fan thought #6 and Collins at the very least for Hayward.
Lmao. Right? Don’t forget we were going to throw in Reddish and Hunter too
Hello Raptors!
They have about $17M in cap space, so it would have to be a sign and trade.
Speculation in Boston is that Hayward wants to go home to Indiana but Indiana doesn’t have the cap space to sign him so they’d have to agree to a sign and trade, centered around Myles Turner & Doug McDermott. Ainge is pressing the Pacers for more of a return in the deal, so Hayward had no choice but to opt out so he can sign elsewhere if Ainge kills the Indiana deal by demanding too much. If this proves to be true, Ainge really needs to go. Besides the Garnett & Pierce trade (which netted Tatum & Brown) most of his other draft picks, trades & FA signings have failed. Just look at Kyrie & Horford as two primary examples. Both were unhappy and left. If Hayward leaves unhappy too, no one will want to come to Boston and play for Ainge & Co. He’d better swallow his pride and get the Indiana sign & trade deal done. Otherwise, the lose Hayward for nothing and it’s time for Danny to go.
Opting out opens the door for a sign and trade . Take a breath and wait for the other shoe to drop . He’s not signing with Knicks
Yes, there is almost certainly more coming than just this.
That trade makes no sense for pacers. Why would they add more? Lol turner is much better than hayward at this point and Turner is much younger if anything celtics would add.
Well, I mean, Kyrie is unhappy everywhere, and Horford left because he got a big fat contract from Philly…Which Ainge was smart not to match.
Yes…perhaps dumbest arguments of 2020
How would Ainge get anything on trade for Hayward? What team gonna trade anything for a rental player. If Hayward took 34 million option what team gonna trade for that salary? Sign and train was only play. I can see turner for Hayward as best case.
Don’t get it. He’s not getting more than 20 mill. I certainly hope Knicks don’t offer more. I rather sign Gallo. You only turn down 34 mill. Cause you want to start and play the 3. He lost that in Boston. How can you let him walk. Last yr could of added Love or Drummond even Aldridge. All a position of need. So it would make them better. If they had any of them for Heat. They are in Finals with a healthy team. You never know right. Lakers were fortunate last yr. Ball bounced their way. They deserve to be champs. Celtics blew it with Hayward, if they let him walk. They signed him to let him walk. What if Sixers took Tatum. Now Celtics would be done …. Ainge is on cruise control lols.
It’s very likely going to be a sign and trade of some sort. They already pushed the deal back two days, something is in the works I would think
Better hope so bro. If they could get Collins from Hawks some how. In a sign and trade. I would take it all back and praise Danny lol.
NY loved The Gallo. We need a vet and shooter and a SF. Hayward fits the bill too. I just don’t want to overpay for either one. If they want Woods. They will have to pay over 10 mill. If Hayward is 100% healthy. I can go for it. Still not for the bank. I dont watch Celts so. When I have watched them. He’s not the same player. It could be the offense plays a role. But it’s been long enough that he should be good physically. Still I’m Leary and I’m not overpaying. I would think Hawks would pay. I know this if both teams get either of those players. They are in the playoffs.
Hayward probably has a long term deal in place but the Celtics have to be thrilled to get let off of that $34+million + luxury tax.
His contract was a HUGE overpay for just a decent role player.
Did anyone see how poorly he played in the playoffs? He was too slow to defend the players he went up against and didn’t shoot well. He is far from the Max. contract player that he signed for. There are so many more players more athletic and better than him.
He actually was great in the playoffs before he got injured. Maybe take your tv in for a repair?
Needs to be entered into the concussion protocol.
I agree with the above. How do you have all those picks and come away with just those 2. I don’t think the Celtics will ever be true contenders with that group. See,s like a little for a lot of picks.
Yeah so far they are basically running it back + the new rookies which is blah
They should’ve traded Hayward and their 3 1st rounders for a new team bus and a bag of balls it would have been worth more then what they got I’ve been saying for weeks they need to fire Danny but all you brown nosers know best right?
Now they all they have is the mid level cap space and in need of a big,bench, and veteran leader ship they’ve gone from top 3 eastern team to a 7-8 seeded team
Yup. All those picks and no moves for needs to put them in finals appearance contention. Sixers management has guts, Morey just got the job and already tweaked the roster. Meanwhile bucks improved yet the celtics became mediocre…
Let him go, he will always be injury prone
The dude got a freak accident in his first game but before that he was always heathy and I believe now that most of his injuries are mind set not really injuries IMO
Overrated. Not a dependable player. Should only be getting < 10 M usd.
Boston should have traded him for Turner & Lamb last year! Now they lose him for nothing. I wasn’t turning down 34 mil though, turning crown 34 mil to sign with the Knicks at that? Yikes!
How in the HELL do you opt out of a 1 year $34M option? Damn these guys make waaaaay too much money!
I’ll admit, I’m a Haywood (Doc Rivers term lol) troll, and an avid Jazz membership holder and I gotta say so glad he dropped us like a pansy and fled to greener pastures…. aaaaand that landed us a baaad mofo named Spida Mitchell!!
He ain’t ever gonna be that Utah dude again Boston paid wayyyy toooo much for a role player type guy
People who know him from his home in Indiana tell me he was really unhappy. Smart,brown,Tatum,rozier…before he got traded…excluded him. I watched…they would not pass to him when he was wide open. There was something there…he loves the coach…had to be bad for him to leave all that scratch on the table. If you hate your job, they can’t pay you enough to keep doing it
Ok, but $34m is $34m. If You have to drive a garbage truck for 1 year you can deal