robdog_5 wrote:He has 1 year left than a player option. If next year is a disaster I think he and Brad both leave anyways. I don’t think he stays around Boston to collect a check the next year. I see trading Hayward as a real negative in terms of optics and value.
I expect if the Celtics get AD this off-season, Hayward averages anywhere between 15 to 19 PPG next season with very good efficiency during regular season but ultimately every Celtic will be judged in playoffs and hard to guess at this without knowing makeup of team and opponents. The 19 ppg is if Irving is replaced by lower usage point guards and the 15 PPG is if Irving is still on the team. I fully expect Tatum to be gone if Davis is on the the Celtics. No way in hell does Ainge repeat this SF logjam of 4 players expecting minutes and shots.
Other than a trade of KD for Hayward plus picks I don't see a Hayward trade that really makes sense for the Celtics and the other team and Hayward this off-season but by midseason/next off-season everything reevaluated. The more I think about it KD trade only available if KD says he is gone and if Boston takes themselves out of AD sweepstakes otherwise why the heck would Golden state facilitate AD to join KD/Horford/Irving and lower their own title chances.
Let's run through some possibilities for this off-season.
I suspect Wolves would like to have Hayward for Wiggins but Celtics would be risking too much to gamble on Wiggins at his current salary especially given makeup of the Celtics. Wolves have said they can trade Wiggins and that they recently received several offers but I don't believe the offers would be anything as good as Hayward right now. Probably a contract between Hayward and Wall who as of right now has worst contract in NBA.
After the strong finish to 2nd half of the season admittedly in a modest usage role, very good playoffs vs Indiana and bad playoffs shooting against Milwaukee in low usage, other teams I suspect view Hayward as a 2 year 50 million dollar player right now in terms of playing ability. GM's have to know Hayward is just in a messed up situation but Hayward is making more than 25 million a year going forward. And he isn't a player that at this stage will help sell many season tickets.
But if a team like the Nets with cap space can't sign anyone, maybe they want him but that would be doing a disservice to Hayward at this point. Much worse than what Clippers did to Blake Griffin come to think about it since at least Griffin I believe got closer to his max salary. Warm LA to cold winters on a mediocre Detroit team is tough, however. Hayward gave up money and a year to leave Utah. I am not even saying Nets want him but I could see him helping them out.
At a smaller salary, he probably fits Milwaukee if Middleton left. But I suspect Bucks prioritize Middleton and let a couple of their other contributors leave instead.
Hayward isn't good enough to replace Leonard in Toronto and still have that team contend but if Leonard wants to leave for a stronger team while getting Toronto something in the deal, Hayward plus a few picks for Leonard makes some sense for both teams. Toronto has an aging cast if anything, they may want to supplement Leonard with Hayward but that is too costly. This does screw over Hayward. And Leonard probably chooses between Toronto and LA.
Philly could actually use him if some players like Butler left but I think Celtics nuts to give Butler a 4 year max contract given Butler's age/ability. Not so worried abut years 1-2 but 3-4 could be a Gerald Wallace type disaster but a much harder to manage player. Wallace seemed like a good team player with Boston at least.
Indiana? They can use all of the offense they can get but they may want to go younger since they are a long ways away.
Houston? As long as they play the D'Antoni style and have Paul to go alongside Harden, no need for Hayward at his current salary.
I could perhaps see Houston wanting to do Hayward for Paul trade but Boston a little crazy to risk that with Paul having 4 years left on his massive deal.
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