As the trade deadline approaches in just over 24 hours, there is growing interest in Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward. As the Jazz struggle as one of the worst teams in the league, many wonder if the team is preparing to rebuild and trade off some of their young stars. Sitting at 19-33 before the deadline makes the team sellers in the market and the Boston Celtics are looking to strike a deal.
According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, the Boston Celtics are looking to acquire Hayward before the deadline. The forward is the main target simply because of his experience playing under Boston head coach Brad Stevens at Butler. He is set to become a restricted free agent this summer after he and the Jazz failed to negotiate a contract extension. Now, the Celtics are hoping Hayward could be a part of future plans.
The issue in this trade is the package. Welcome to the deadline panic. The Celtics are not looking to part with any of their first-round draft picks. The Jazz are not interest in point guard Rajon Rondo. They might be the only team turning down an offer for the All-Star. Utah fears that if they acquire Rondo now, he will not want to re-sign with the team in free agency and they will have lost a young star for it. The Jazz are reportedly also not interested in Jeff Green, again making them the only team to turn down the player. The only thing the Jazz might budge on is draft picks and the Celtics are withholding those.
So essentially, this deal will not get done. The Celtics do not have enough to persuade the Jazz to let go of the forward in the next 24 hours. Hayward will likely remain with the team and have his future decided in the summer. The two sides failed to come to terms on a long-term deal this summer and Hayward could looking to jump ship as the Jazz continue to put together disappointing seasons.
The Boston Celtics could still acquire the forward, but not until the offseason. Bleacher Report's Ethan Norof suggests the Celtics could make a run at Hayward in free agency. The Jazz will have the option to match any offer made, so the Celtics will have to shoot high in order to land the forward.
If the Celtics continue to be hesitant in trading draft picks, they will not make a single move at the deadline. Any teams making trades are looking for picks and nothing else.
