The Boston Celtics long have been considered to be a team that will be active at the trading deadline this season and with February just around the corner, a big name in Gordon Hayward has emerged as a target for head coach Brad Stevens and with Rajon Rondo coming back from his injury, the team could try and make a move.
Hayward and the Utah Jazz were not able to come to a contract extension agreement earlier in the season and that means he will be a restricted free agent this summer. According to Bill Simmons from ESPN.com and Grantland, the Celtics may be looking at Hayward as a trade target in February or as an option as a restricted free agent this summer when he hits the market. The Jazz love Hayward and want to keep him, but the Celtics may have some cash to spend depending on who they trade and who comes off the books at the end of the season and that could line up a move for the team.
Stevens coached Hayward while the two were at Butler and he could love to add him to the roster and while a move like that could be difficult, the Celtics have a number of pieces that they can move to help financial situations, including expiring contracts that will be coming off the books. Hayward has been the best offensive player for the Jazz this season and he will be a target for a number of teams when he hits the market. Some names that could be involved in a deal includes Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Richard Jefferson, Keith Bogans and possibly Kelly Olynyk, but all of that is down the road.
Hayward is averaging a high of 17.1 points this season and he has been the most essential part of a bad Jazz team this year. The Celtics could elect to move Avery Bradley or Rajon Rondo at the trading deadline and that could help the team get Hayward, or they could wait until the offseason to try and sign him away from the Jazz.
The Celtics have fallen back to earth at 13-25 after getting off to a nice start this season and with Rondo coming back from his injury, Bradley has been thrust into a starting position and that could make his value even higher on the market. Hayward was looking at a deal around four years and $50 million with the Jazz and that will be a starting point next summer and comes after he averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and three assists per game last season.
