The Hawks may try to add Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Sources tell Haynes that Hayward has generated “plenty of interest.”
Hayward currently has a decision to make on his $34.2MM player option for the 2020/21 season. Earlier today, it was reported that he and Boston mutually agreed to extend his deadline on making a decision on the final year of his contract to November 19.
Hayward could be added in a variety of ways, though it seems most likely that he would join a new club either in a sign-and-trade or an outright free agency signing. Sources told Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) earlier today that a Hayward trade would most likely be done through a sign-and-trade with the Celtics, as teams with interest in Hayward’s services would want the forward beyond the 2020/21 season. However, Atlanta is one of the few teams with the cap room necessary to sign Hayward outright.
With $44MM in their coffers, the Hawks currently have the most salary cap availability in the NBA. Haynes notes that the 6’7″ Hayward, 30, could fulfill the desire of GM Travis Schlenk and the Hawks front office to add a secondary playmaker to spell All-Star point guard Trae Young. Hayward could serve as a nice veteran front court fit alongside sharpshooting power forward John Collins.
As we have previously relayed, the Hawks might also be pursuing Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo, whose terrific postseason play helped Los Angeles secure the 2020 NBA title.
John Hollinger of The Athletic (Twitter link) notes that a Hayward sign-and-trade deal with the Hawks would benefit the Celtics in that it could carve out a significant trade exception, space into which Boston could build out its roster depth.
If the Celtics can get him to opt in and get anything it’s a win since he can opt out and they get nothing
One thing is for sure, he’s not playing for Boston.
If Hayward is dealt via sign and trade, I could see Hayward 14, 30 for 6 or something like Hayward and Grant for Capela Reddish and Hunter
Lmao. Reddish and Hunter? For Hayward?
0% chance of that. They might get dedmon and some 2nds
You do know they have to add salary to match up in a trade right ?
Are you saying Grant Williams if so he’s the one guy they picked last yr they seem too like
Only ask because you used last names for everyone else so wasn’t sure
3 starters for Hayward? I’m hoping this was sarcasm. Lol
I love that for the C’s – Capela would be a great fit
You’re not getting more then Dedmon and maybe a filler or two for one year and $34m of Hayward. It’s basically a salary dump.
You’re incorrect Hayward has value
“Plenty of interest” would seem to suggest value
His contract is expiring, but he’s still not an asset at 34 mm. I think they want him to opt out, and they’re giving him the extra time so that some other team can tempt him into opting out. I don’t think they’re looking at a valuable return. More like they’ll agree, if he does opt out, to facilitate a S&T to the team of his choice (if that team lacks the cap space to sign him directly).
The only value Boston can get out of this is if Hayward opts in. If he opts out, he can sign with any team but the Celtics can’t replace his salary with another player because they are over the cap. So they would basically lose him for nothing. They extended this date so they can work together to find a mutually acceptable new home for him. Whether that be via standard trade or a sign & trade is to be determined. Hayward is actually being a good guy by working with Boston so they can get some value out of him. He’s not happy with his role on the team and he’s not a greedy guy so he could easily opt out for a guaranteed 3-4 year deal worth $60-$80M elsewhere. Let’s hope Boston can find a new home for him and bring back an asset or two as part of that deal.
I don’t think so. First, players don’t work with their current teams to take value from their future teams. They do it increase their destination options.
You don’t understand that he (eventually) has to opt out (has to) in order for their to be a S&T possibility. That’s the only way they really get anything. If he opts in, Boston is limited to trading his existing contract (which has no value).
If you’re right, then why would Boston extend the deadline? His default option would be to opt in. If that’s a good option for Boston, then don’t extend.
Did BOS give Hayward permission to seek a trade? Is that why this is okay?
Is that what happened with Bogdan Bogdanovich too?
If I were the Celtics I wouldn’t want to resign him
Oh yea, at this point they just trying to get something out of him before he walks for nothing or they stuck with his deal on their books another year.
Well if they do make a trade it would have to be for either Capela or Dedmon because they need a big other than that idk who else could be involved in less they get a 3rd team
Capela ain’t getting moved for GH lol
That’s a downward move for ATL. We got him to shore up the C, not to flip him and be right back where we were before having to use Collins out of position.
Yeah no way c’s are getting capela.
Hawks will likely sign him in free agency and sign rondo to backup trae.
Young
Huerter/hunter/reddish
Hayward
Collins
Capela
Backup
Rondo
Huerter/hunter
Reddish
Skal
Jones
Not great but pretty good roster along with pick number 6, could definitely make playoffs.
I saw Rondo already rejected our offer lol. Which I ain’t mad at tbh. 7.5 a year for him to get mad on the bench because of his minutes isn’t quite the move I was hoping for lol
He hasn’t rejected it, where does it state this?
Open your eyes
Might not be officially yet, but Rondo, nor any of his people that advise him want anything to do with us from what I’ve heard. He wants to go to a proven contender. (LAC)
ATL gets neither Hayward or Rondo, bank it.
That wouldn’t shock me either. And would run typical to atlanta offseasons. Hoping the Trae effect starts to turn on and change folks just not wanting to come here.
Tbh, we need defense and Dunn is basically Rondo at this point. As long as we get a backup pg that can defend we’re good.
If the Hawks eat up most of their salary cap by obtaining Hayward, that leaves the Knicks, Pistons, Heat and Hornets as the only teams with cap space above the MLE.
What does that mean for VanVleet, Wood, Gallinari and Bertans?
Vanvleet will stay with raptors, nuggets, warriors,pistons can sign Wood, Galo will take less to play for a contender & maybe Wiz keep Bertans.
Even at 25mil a year that leaves ATL with around 19mil in cap room. Plenty above MLE.
Where’d the extra $9m go? Hayward makes 34 not 25.
That’s on his current deal. You think he’s gonna make more than 34mil a year on his new deal?
He looking at the 3/80mil range. Nobody wants to pay him 34 a year lol, not even Boston.
So Hayward wants to go from a conference finals team to a mediocre team??? Not Mavs, not pacers??? So many of these guys have no intention to win…
Uh, a starting 5 of Young, Collins, Capela, Hayward, and Reddish will compete in the East. Hawks played no games with Cap and JC missed almost half the season. Hunter and Huerter coming off the bench? Especially if they sign Rondo? That squad will play really competitive ball.
But no conference finals… Hornets play hard too and suck.
Not in year one but I’m a big believer in Reddish. He’s going to be a star. Huerter and Hunter are already good bench guys. Rondo, Dedmon, and if they get another guy like Okoro to help out defensively they’d be pretty dang good.
You shouldn’t get your hopes up on Rondo. Doesn’t sound like he’s leaving LA.
Are quality teams going to pay Hayward over $30M?
Well he hasn’t been at an all-star level since returning from injury. Why would quality teams want him??? Pacers is the only one that would and make sense for he and the celtics. Turner & Lamb for Hayward is decent, but Boston will remain with mediocre bigs.
No team will pay him over 30mil. Even the non quality ones. He’s nowhere near worth that.
Never said he was worth that. But he should want to go to the pacers(whom have a core and can build on their success as they should be healthy this year). Going to the hawks isn’t wise. But hey even CP3 didn’t wanna go to either L.A team to have a chance to win, he accepted a suns trade. PHX isn’t better than lakers,nuggets,warriors..
I agree there, as a hawks fan myself, he isn’t quite the fit of player we need to make the jump, not that we wouldn’t take him, but their are def better fits out there for him. We just happen to have the most $$ to offer if that’s what’s he’s for. But just like how rondo is about to turn down our deal, for some players it’s not about the money. It’s about the place
He’s from Indy though. ATL hasn’t exactly shown they wanna win. With him they will be a eastern nuggets 2.0 without much experience other then Hayward.
I disgaree. Going and getting Capela and now looking to add pieces this year shows we aren’t just rolling over.
It is odd isn’t it, it’s almost these guys want to work for employers who pay them the most. I don’t get it.
They should send Hayward to the PELICANS ……… he and Van Gundy would easily top the NBA porn-stache rankings.
Lol I’d buy a Pelicans calendar. Gimme Van Gundy every day of the year
Be careful what you wish for bro …….. you might just get it.
Hawks would be dumb to pay him. When next yr is big FA yr. To me he’s not 25 mill a yr player. Why would Hawks do this. When they can sign Gallinari without giving up anything. Hayward is not turning down 34 mill.
Because next year they still have flexibility. Dedmon comes off the books and they can still make trades of positive assets. Collins may or may not be traded or extended, Capela can be moved…right now it’s all about finding guys that play well with Trae.
Hayward was very good for the Celtics this year until he sprained his ankle. He’s a very good player (not a top star but very good) and would make a lot of teams better.
The fact that he pushed his opt out decision until after the draft tells me that he’ll probably be a sign and trade to another team like the Hawks. His new contract will be in the $20MMs instead of his player option of $34MM but it will be for three years so his overall money will be higher.
I think Hayward is unhappy being the number four player on Boston’s depth chart which is why he wants to go someplace else where he can be the number two or three.
Is this post sponsored by Ace Hardware because you nailed it
I shop at Lowes, but thank you.
Well said
Hayward is the favorite whipping boy of the CELTICS fanbase, for every playoff series they lose.
He’ll probably want a change of scenery, by this time.
If nobody is complaining about that comment, it might be from Boston posters conceding he may not offer much more to the Celtics. I say that and get “What? No! That’s crazy. Drummond’s not good enough for Hayward” like it’s some kind of playing card game.
BTW the Cavs are promoting on tv now using Drummond and tell you what. Nice highlights. Mythical deal off.
Hawks should take Hayward, this year 26th and a future first and give back Dwayne Dedmon.
Boston gets a huge trade exception to use to build it depth. They get Dedmon who is a decent role player and it cost them 1 crap first this year and they still already have two firsts and a future first. They would clear heaps of cap money off their tax bill also.
Hawks would get a solid vet for the SF position and make them a playoff team plus it adds to the rebuild getting a couple of extra firsts
I thought ATL wanted to win?
Adding Hayward is a negative for the team & will make them worst, unless BOS gives up a few picks to sweeten the deal while getting Dedmon & Jones at the most from ATL, no way any rotation player leaves to BOS!
Seems a very bad deal for ATL if you ask me!
Anybody else think this bailout S&T loophole is a mistake of CBA rules in its fishy smell? Hayward could weaken his new team because why? Does the loophole exist to offer a parting gift to a team losing a player?— there used to be compensatory draft picks and so forth in the rules, but that went away. Now Boston might get a huge TPE from trading Hayward. The Warriors did that maybe twice last year, and all it got them was Wiggins instead of Iguodala.
But there is a kind of ethics involved— why this loophole; why have compensation built in at all. When an important player leaves, he leaves behind a salary gap that can be filled with someone else, in theory. If there is to be some compensation, seems like, it should be more straightforward. I guess I’m not sure what it should be. What should the Rockets get for their fiasco?— a run-it-back-again with talent getting vultured?— It’s harder to trade a star than a RoCo.
I don’t see that the Celtics should get anything, at least not what they could use to poach someone else’s star (like a TPE).