Hayward Likely to OPT-IN to final year of contract!

[Saint Lazarus]

I dont see Smart as wanting to come off the bench again. I dont see Hayward as wanting to come off the bench. Feels like something needs to be done about that.

That's when you get KG in to smack some literal sense into Smart and inform him that he's a role pkayer

[BostonCouchGM]

My option isn’t in the poll, I think he should be extended personally. When healthy he’s our second best player

I've been saying that as well. But I think we're wrong. He is the 2nd best NBA player on our roster but he's not our second best player because I think he isn't utilized correctly and his teammates don't like him. So even though the offense should be running through him and he should be putting up huge numbers because he's exactly what Brad's system needs, he's not doing that here. He's like the 4th option behind extremely limited offensive players Kemba and Jaylen. There's no point having him here in that role healthy or not. He wouldn't be earning his salary and it'd be doing our team and him a disservice. That's why if he opts in, imho it'll be because he wants to secure the bag and knows he's being dealt. I can't imagine him signing an extension with us with how the roster is currently constructed.

[Ernest]

I think I'm watching a different team than some of you guys. I don't see in what world Hayward is better than Smart. Smart may well be ok with being 6th man if its best for the team, but come on, he's our best or 2nd best player.

[La Flame]

Hayward + picks for Holiday?

Yes all day.

Kemba/Jrue/Brown/Tatum/Theis

Or go super defense mode

Jrue/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Williams

Right? Be a little like Iverson and Eric Snow. If we move Hayward think we need another playmaker. No idea what Jrue’s value is though.

Yep, we'd have the 2 best defensive guards in the league on the team. That's insane paired along with Brown and Tatum's defensive abilities. I think we need to give up Langford at least, if not a bit more

[SmartWentCrazy]

I dont see Smart as wanting to come off the bench again. I dont see Hayward as wanting to come off the bench. Feels like something needs to be done about that.

That's when you get KG in to smack some literal sense into Smart and inform him that he's a role pkayer

Garnett publicly called for Smart to remain as a starter two weeks ago:

However, according to KG, the Celtics’ ability to gel wasn’t in spite of Hayward’s injury but because of it.

“I love Gordon [Hayward] to death,” says Garnett. “I just don’t know where it fits in the growth of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. You have a trifecta, you know? And it just looks at times like he doesn’t fit or he tries too hard. It just looks like he doesn’t fit.’

Expounding upon why the team would develop more chemistry without Hayward, KG explains that “with him out, it’s a simplicity for Marcus Smart to come in and play a certain way. It seems like a simplicity for Kemba Walker to come in and play a certain way… Tatum. It just seems like a more simplistic system when those four, or those three, are kind of working.”

“I’m no coach or anything,” Garnett says. “I’m just an observer and I’m a student of energy or chemistry. And I’m just watching how that whole dynamic looks when Gordon is off it.”

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/16/nba-boston-celtics-kevin-garnett-crown-royal-interview/

[Saint Lazarus]

I dont see Smart as wanting to come off the bench again. I dont see Hayward as wanting to come off the bench. Feels like something needs to be done about that.

That's when you get KG in to smack some literal sense into Smart and inform him that he's a role pkayer

Garnett publicly called for Smart to remain as a starter two weeks ago:

However, according to KG, the Celtics’ ability to gel wasn’t in spite of Hayward’s injury but because of it.

“I love Gordon [Hayward] to death,” says Garnett. “I just don’t know where it fits in the growth of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. You have a trifecta, you know? And it just looks at times like he doesn’t fit or he tries too hard. It just looks like he doesn’t fit.’

Expounding upon why the team would develop more chemistry without Hayward, KG explains that “with him out, it’s a simplicity for Marcus Smart to come in and play a certain way. It seems like a simplicity for Kemba Walker to come in and play a certain way… Tatum. It just seems like a more simplistic system when those four, or those three, are kind of working.”

“I’m no coach or anything,” Garnett says. “I’m just an observer and I’m a student of energy or chemistry. And I’m just watching how that whole dynamic looks when Gordon is off it.”

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/16/nba-boston-celtics-kevin-garnett-crown-royal-interview/

I'm hiring KG to be a hired gun/enforcer and be the mouth piece of Brad. I don't give a **** what he actually thinks

[big-shot-ROB]

There are like a 1,000 posts in the Conf. Finals GTs about how we were awful on crunch time executions, how we resorted to stupid ISOs by Kemba and Tatum, how we should get Brown more touches and you want to trade the best player we have to avoid that by some sup-bar centers or draft picks.

Some of you are really short-sighted.

There's no other player out there that'll make us better contenders for next year than Hayward. Our Kemba-Brown-Hay-Tatum-Smart core has been together for one year and we reached the ECF in this crazy season.

I'm willing to risk Gordon getting injured again on crucial times. That's how freaking good he is.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

There are like a 1,000 posts in the Conf. Finals GTs about how we were awful on crunch time executions, how we resorted to stupid ISOs by Kemba and Tatum, how we should get Brown more touches and you want to trade the best player we have to avoid that by some sup-bar centers or draft picks.

Some of you are really short-sighted.

There's no other player out there that'll make us better contenders for next year than Hayward. Our Kemba-Brown-Hay-Tatum-Smart core has been together for one year and we reached the ECF in this crazy season.

I'm willing to risk Gordon getting injured again on crucial times. That's how freaking good he is.

Well that risk may not payoff because Hayward is ALWAYS injured. Plus at this point he is the 4th option behind Tatum, Brown and Walker. Honestly at this point it seems like the few times he is healthy the team is trying to figure out what to do with Hayward when he is on the floor because is he constantly in and out of the lineup.

At some point people have to admin the Gordan Hayward experiment was a failure and it is time to move on. I am hoping he is traded to try and get a decent big or some depth.

[SmartWentCrazy]

There are like a 1,000 posts in the Conf. Finals GTs about how we were awful on crunch time executions, how we resorted to stupid ISOs by Kemba and Tatum, how we should get Brown more touches and you want to trade the best player we have to avoid that by some sup-bar centers or draft picks.

Some of you are really short-sighted.

There's no other player out there that'll make us better contenders for next year than Hayward. Our Kemba-Brown-Hay-Tatum-Smart core has been together for one year and we reached the ECF in this crazy season.

I'm willing to risk Gordon getting injured again on crucial times. That's how freaking good he is.

Just the opposite— with Tatum maxed [likely at 30%], Kemba, Brown and Smart, the Celtics will have north of 100M in salary commitments after Hayward expires. Re-signing him likely forces us way too deep in the tax and the owners likely balk. It basically comes down to a Smart vs Hayward with respect to who we keep long term and Haywards contract and injury history make the decision relatively easy IMO.

So then it comes down to, what do we want to do? Let him walk for nothing, while not being able to have any cap room to sign another good player? Or add something else in return for him. I know what I’d choose.

Finally, we literally just saw this exact same scenario play out two years ago. Hayward goes down, he gets replaced and we go on an ECF run. Im willing to bet that Smart isnt eager to return to the bench as he’ll want to get paid in two years and — again — we literally just saw this exact scenario play out.

The long term play is to move on from Hayward. The short term view is to keep him, force Smart to the bench and pray that doing the exact same thing miraculously leads to different results this time cuz ‘talent’.

[MagicBagley18]

There are like a 1,000 posts in the Conf. Finals GTs about how we were awful on crunch time executions, how we resorted to stupid ISOs by Kemba and Tatum, how we should get Brown more touches and you want to trade the best player we have to avoid that by some sup-bar centers or draft picks.

Some of you are really short-sighted.

There's no other player out there that'll make us better contenders for next year than Hayward. Our Kemba-Brown-Hay-Tatum-Smart core has been together for one year and we reached the ECF in this crazy season.

I'm willing to risk Gordon getting injured again on crucial times. That's how freaking good he is.

Just the opposite— with Tatum maxed [likely at 30%], Kemba, Brown and Smart, the Celtics will have north of 100M in salary commitments after Hayward expires. Re-signing him likely forces us way too deep in the tax and the owners likely balk. It basically comes down to a Smart vs Hayward with respect to who we keep long term and Haywards contract and injury history make the decision relatively easy IMO.

So then it comes down to, what do we want to do? Let him walk for nothing, while not being able to have any cap room to sign another good player? Or add something else in return for him. I know what I’d choose.

Finally, we literally just saw this exact same scenario play out two years ago. Hayward goes down, he gets replaced and we go on an ECF run. Im willing to bet that Smart isnt eager to return to the bench as he’ll want to get paid in two years and — again — we literally just saw this exact scenario play out.

The long term play is to move on from Hayward. The short term view is to keep him, force Smart to the bench and pray that doing the exact same thing miraculously leads to different results this time cuz ‘talent’.

I’m actually one of the biggest Hayward fans here...I’ve defended him all season. I know how good he was this year when he was healthy and I know if he was to be healthy the team really could hit another level.

The problem is I don’t think he will ever stay healthy and if we can use his salary to get either an asset who can upgrade a position of need or depth pieces to make us deep- u have to seriously consider it. This team just went on a deep playoff run without him and our avenues to really improve beyond next season are limited, I think we have no choice but to at least listen to hayward offers.

I’m not saying just give him away, or by all means necessary trade him but I realize the salary cap implications moving forward and now time to at least seriously entertain it

[SmartWentCrazy]

There are like a 1,000 posts in the Conf. Finals GTs about how we were awful on crunch time executions, how we resorted to stupid ISOs by Kemba and Tatum, how we should get Brown more touches and you want to trade the best player we have to avoid that by some sup-bar centers or draft picks.

Some of you are really short-sighted.

There's no other player out there that'll make us better contenders for next year than Hayward. Our Kemba-Brown-Hay-Tatum-Smart core has been together for one year and we reached the ECF in this crazy season.

I'm willing to risk Gordon getting injured again on crucial times. That's how freaking good he is.

Just the opposite— with Tatum maxed [likely at 30%], Kemba, Brown and Smart, the Celtics will have north of 100M in salary commitments after Hayward expires. Re-signing him likely forces us way too deep in the tax and the owners likely balk. It basically comes down to a Smart vs Hayward with respect to who we keep long term and Haywards contract and injury history make the decision relatively easy IMO.

So then it comes down to, what do we want to do? Let him walk for nothing, while not being able to have any cap room to sign another good player? Or add something else in return for him. I know what I’d choose.

Finally, we literally just saw this exact same scenario play out two years ago. Hayward goes down, he gets replaced and we go on an ECF run. Im willing to bet that Smart isnt eager to return to the bench as he’ll want to get paid in two years and — again — we literally just saw this exact scenario play out.

The long term play is to move on from Hayward. The short term view is to keep him, force Smart to the bench and pray that doing the exact same thing miraculously leads to different results this time cuz ‘talent’.

I’m actually one of the biggest Hayward fans here...I’ve defended him all season. I know how good he was this year when he was healthy and I know if he was to be healthy the team really could hit another level.

The problem is I don’t think he will ever stay healthy and if we can use his salary to get either an asset who can upgrade a position of need or depth pieces to make us deep- u have to seriously consider it. This team just went on a deep playoff run without him and our avenues to really improve beyond next season are limited, I think we have no choice but to at least listen to hayward offers.

I’m not saying just give him away, or by all means necessary trade him but I realize the salary cap implications moving forward and now time to at least seriously entertain it

We’ve been on multiple ECF runs without him now. The first time, Stevens re-inserted him into the starting lineup and the team, to put it kindly, did not take well to it. There will always be the perception of favoritism with Stevens and Hayward, so much so that guys will always be rubbed the wrong way by any perceived/imagined slight.

I dont doubt for a second that Tatum/Brown/Walker are going to side with the guy they have a ton of chemistry with over Hayward. I can see the car crash next season coming from a mile away. We need to switch lanes to avoid another repeat of 2018/19 next year.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Celtics would have swept Toronto and beat Miami in 6 or 7 with a healthy Hayward. I'm really not sure why people are making things up in regards to the guy just to get rid of him. He's a keeper, plain and simple.

Only way I'm trading GH is if you got yourself a Bradley Beal type incoming..

[MagicBagley18]

Celtics would have swept Toronto and beat Miami in 6 or 7 with a healthy Hayward. I'm really not sure why people are making things up in regards to the guy just to get rid of him. He's a keeper, plain and simple.

Only way I'm trading GH is if you got yourself a Bradley Beal type incoming..

What’s being made up? is he injury prone? Yes. Is he in the last year of a contract? Yes. Are our avenues to improve the team limited? Yes. Is a 34 million expiring contract an intriguing trade piece? Yes. Is this team better with a healthy Hayward? Yes.

There’s no lies being made up....Hayward was great when he played this year. He’s a very good player when he plays and I enjoy watching him but you must listen to trades for him and see what the return is.

Bradley Beal will cost u brown....Hayward doesn’t fetch that return w his injury history

[snowman]

If I have to chose between Smart and Hayward, I have to go Smart. He is younger, better defender, better contract, and a better motivator. Does he go "hero ball" one out of every five games or so, sure, but does he come up with the defensive play when we need it most, yes. Hayward will opt in, and I think it is likely we will trade him after the draft, because he can't opt in until after the draft. If we have to trade him for a lesser player, on a lower contract, we may be better off for it down the line. Or we could just ride out his last year, since Tatum's new contract won't kick in until afterward then let him walk or offer a sign and trade next off season.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Celtics would have swept Toronto and beat Miami in 6 or 7 with a healthy Hayward. I'm really not sure why people are making things up in regards to the guy just to get rid of him. He's a keeper, plain and simple.

Only way I'm trading GH is if you got yourself a Bradley Beal type incoming..

What’s being made up? is he injury prone? Yes. Is he in the last year of a contract? Yes. Are our avenues to improve the team limited? Yes. Is a 34 million expiring contract an intriguing trade piece? Yes. Is this team better with a healthy Hayward? Yes.

There’s no lies being made up....Hayward was great when he played this year. He’s a very good player when he plays and I enjoy watching him but you must listen to trades for him and see what the return is.

Bradley Beal will cost u brown....Hayward doesn’t fetch that return w his injury history

He isn't exactly Romeo Langford getting injured in practice or 16 seconds into a game. His injuries are pretty freak ones that can happen to anybody. I'm a lot more concerned for Kemba injury wise than I am with Gordo. Small guard who is awful offensively and has a 4 month knee problem even when he didn't play a game for 3 months is pretty concerning.

Stuff like 'JT/JB/Kemba probably choose Smart over him' or that there's a 'car crash coming next season because Smart won't want the bench'. I mean if Smart is the problem than ship him out. If you love him then you ship Kemba out. I'm sure we will survive without his 8 for 22 shooting in a decisive game 6 anyways.

[MagicBagley18]

Celtics would have swept Toronto and beat Miami in 6 or 7 with a healthy Hayward. I'm really not sure why people are making things up in regards to the guy just to get rid of him. He's a keeper, plain and simple.

Only way I'm trading GH is if you got yourself a Bradley Beal type incoming..

What’s being made up? is he injury prone? Yes. Is he in the last year of a contract? Yes. Are our avenues to improve the team limited? Yes. Is a 34 million expiring contract an intriguing trade piece? Yes. Is this team better with a healthy Hayward? Yes.

There’s no lies being made up....Hayward was great when he played this year. He’s a very good player when he plays and I enjoy watching him but you must listen to trades for him and see what the return is.

Bradley Beal will cost u brown....Hayward doesn’t fetch that return w his injury history

He isn't exactly Romeo Langford getting injured in practice or 16 seconds into a game. His injuries are pretty freak ones that can happen to anybody. I'm a lot more concerned for Kemba injury wise than I am with Gordo. Small guard who is awful offensively and has a 4 month knee problem even when he didn't play a game for 3 months is pretty concerning.

Stuff like 'JT/JB/Kemba probably choose Smart over him' or that there's a 'car crash coming next season because Smart won't want the bench'. I mean if Smart is the problem than ship him out. If you love him than you ship Kemba out. I'm sure we will survive without his 8 for 22 shooting in a decisive game 6 anyways.

Yes, he’s incredibly unlucky but he’s injured nonetheless. Perhaps if kemba was on the last year of his contract we would be talking about him- yet he made an all star game this year. I love Hayward and don’t wanna knock him to prop up kemba but how many all star games did Hayward make here in Boston?

[BRUNiNHO91]

What’s being made up? is he injury prone? Yes. Is he in the last year of a contract? Yes. Are our avenues to improve the team limited? Yes. Is a 34 million expiring contract an intriguing trade piece? Yes. Is this team better with a healthy Hayward? Yes.

There’s no lies being made up....Hayward was great when he played this year. He’s a very good player when he plays and I enjoy watching him but you must listen to trades for him and see what the return is.

Bradley Beal will cost u brown....Hayward doesn’t fetch that return w his injury history

He isn't exactly Romeo Langford getting injured in practice or 16 seconds into a game. His injuries are pretty freak ones that can happen to anybody. I'm a lot more concerned for Kemba injury wise than I am with Gordo. Small guard who is awful offensively and has a 4 month knee problem even when he didn't play a game for 3 months is pretty concerning.

Stuff like 'JT/JB/Kemba probably choose Smart over him' or that there's a 'car crash coming next season because Smart won't want the bench'. I mean if Smart is the problem than ship him out. If you love him than you ship Kemba out. I'm sure we will survive without his 8 for 22 shooting in a decisive game 6 anyways.

Yes, he’s incredibly unlucky but he’s injured nonetheless. Perhaps if kemba was on the last year of his contract we would be talking about him- yet he made an all star game this year. I love Hayward and don’t wanna knock him to prop up kemba but how many all star games did Hayward make here in Boston?

How many has Jaylen made though? Should we trade him over Kemba? Not sure a popularity contest should be used for this debate.

I get what you guys are saying, I just think there should not be this much desire to trade Hayward. A lot of it is due to 'what have you done for me lately' and Hayward with a grade 3 ankle sprain couldn't do much, I get it. But at the end of the day, he is a great offensive player, solid defensively and a great teammate. 17ppg as a 4th option who has the talent to be 2nd option on most teams in the league. I'll trade Hayward but that trade better be damn good.

[MagicBagley18]

He isn't exactly Romeo Langford getting injured in practice or 16 seconds into a game. His injuries are pretty freak ones that can happen to anybody. I'm a lot more concerned for Kemba injury wise than I am with Gordo. Small guard who is awful offensively and has a 4 month knee problem even when he didn't play a game for 3 months is pretty concerning.

Stuff like 'JT/JB/Kemba probably choose Smart over him' or that there's a 'car crash coming next season because Smart won't want the bench'. I mean if Smart is the problem than ship him out. If you love him than you ship Kemba out. I'm sure we will survive without his 8 for 22 shooting in a decisive game 6 anyways.

Yes, he’s incredibly unlucky but he’s injured nonetheless. Perhaps if kemba was on the last year of his contract we would be talking about him- yet he made an all star game this year. I love Hayward and don’t wanna knock him to prop up kemba but how many all star games did Hayward make here in Boston?

How many has Jaylen made though? Should we trade him over Kemba? Not sure a popularity contest should be used for this debate.

I get what you guys are saying, I just think there should not be this much desire to trade Hayward. A lot of it is due to 'what have you done for me lately' and Hayward with a grade 3 ankle sprain couldn't do much, I get it. But at the end of the day, he is a great offensive player, solid defensively and a great teammate. 17ppg as a 4th option who has the talent to be 2nd option on most teams in the league. I'll trade Hayward but that trade better be damn good.

I’m all for trading Jaylen to upgrade the roster if there’s a deal that makes us better. I have no problem moving Jaylen in the right deal so you’re talking to the wrong guy. Bit different moving a 23 yr old wing with upside and a 30 yr old wing on the decline but I digress.

You’re also completely wrong when trying to analyze why I’m open to trading Hayward if there’s a good deal. It hasn’t nothing to do with what have you done for me lately- at all.

Check my history i love Hayward and this has zero to do with recent bias. It has to do with moving forward and having flexibility moving forward. I was against moving Hayward in season when half the board was screaming for him to be moved. You don’t need to sell me on Hayward.

It’s not a popularity contest it’s fact- we are a wing heavy team w brown and Tatum, Brad loves scoring point guards and kemba made the all star team. Hayward’s on the last year of his deal and he could bring back a decent return- so you look around, u don’t sell him off for anything or give him away but u inquire.

[ConstableGeneva]

If I have to chose between Smart and Hayward, I have to go Smart. He is younger, better defender, better contract, and a better motivator. Does he go "hero ball" one out of every five games or so, sure, but does he come up with the defensive play when we need it most, yes. Hayward will opt in, and I think it is likely we will trade him after the draft, because he can't opt in until after the draft. If we have to trade him for a lesser player, on a lower contract, we may be better off for it down the line. Or we could just ride out his last year, since Tatum's new contract won't kick in until afterward then let him walk or offer a sign and trade next off season.

Hayward's opt-in deadline comes before the draft. Just an FYI.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Yes, he’s incredibly unlucky but he’s injured nonetheless. Perhaps if kemba was on the last year of his contract we would be talking about him- yet he made an all star game this year. I love Hayward and don’t wanna knock him to prop up kemba but how many all star games did Hayward make here in Boston?

How many has Jaylen made though? Should we trade him over Kemba? Not sure a popularity contest should be used for this debate.

I get what you guys are saying, I just think there should not be this much desire to trade Hayward. A lot of it is due to 'what have you done for me lately' and Hayward with a grade 3 ankle sprain couldn't do much, I get it. But at the end of the day, he is a great offensive player, solid defensively and a great teammate. 17ppg as a 4th option who has the talent to be 2nd option on most teams in the league. I'll trade Hayward but that trade better be damn good.

I’m all for trading Jaylen to upgrade the roster if there’s a deal that makes us better. I have no problem moving Jaylen in the right deal so you’re talking to the wrong guy. Bit different moving a 23 yr old wing with upside and a 30 yr old wing on the decline but I digress.

You’re also completely wrong when trying to analyze why I’m open to trading Hayward if there’s a good deal. It hasn’t nothing to do with what have you done for me lately- at all.

Check my history i love Hayward and this has zero to do with recent bias. It has to do with moving forward and having flexibility moving forward. I was against moving Hayward in season when half the board was screaming for him to be moved. You don’t need to sell me on Hayward.

It’s not a popularity contest it’s fact- we are a wing heavy team w brown and Tatum, Brad loves scoring point guards and kemba made the all star team. Hayward’s on the last year of his deal and he could bring back a decent return- so you look around, u don’t sell him off for anything or give him away but u inquire.

Tbf, my original post wasn't even for you. That's why I didn't quote anybody. It was a mix of what a lot of guys on this thread said. 90% of the guys trying to trade Hayward are doing it because they are salty of him kinda sucking against Miami whne he clearly wasn't healthy.