Boston Celtics will keep meeting with Gordon Hayward small
The Boston Celtics will reportedly keep their meeting with free agent Gordon Hayward small, but there could be a surprise or two coming.
While the Boston Celtics have missed out on Jimmy Butler and Paul George trades so far this offseason, they seem to be all in on free agent small forward Gordon Hayward. The original plan was to sign Hayward and then make a trade for George, but the Pacers did not want to wait.
Instead, Indiana sent George to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which makes the pitch to Hayward that much more difficult for Boston. The Celtics backup seemed to be Blake Griffin, but he re-signed with the Clippers.
Now, Danny Ainge and the Celtics brass will have to give it their all to land Hayward in Boston.
Hayward is meeting with the Miami Heat today (Saturday) and tomorrow he will be in Boston before meeting with the Utah Jazz on Monday. Miami, of course, has also gone all in on Hayward. In fact, a banner with Hayward in a Heat uniform greeted him outside of the arena.
Just drove around American Airlines Arena and check out what I came across! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/QfH1B79Cqy
— Kevin Escalera (@KevinEscalera) July 1, 2017
Heat President Pat Riley will be joined by head coach Eric Spoelstra, Alonzo Mourning, Hassan Whiteside, Udonis Haslem, and Justise Winslow.
Boston’s meeting seems like it will be a bit smaller, and they likely won’t have any banner in place.
Celtics will keep their meeting with Gordon Hayward relatively small tomorrow, with IT, Horford, Brad Stevens, Danny Ainge and ownership.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) July 1, 2017
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Presumably, no one on any team that Hayward is meeting with knows him better than Brad Stevens. Before both made the jump to the NBA, Stevens was Hayward’s head coach at Butler University.
Even though these are the current reports, I’d still expect a surprise or two from Danny Ainge. Last summer the Celtics brought New England Patriots QB Tom Brady to their meeting with Kevin Durant. That won’t be the best choice this time around since Hayward isn’t a Brady fan, but there could be something coming. Perhaps a number of Celtics legends could show up for the meeting.
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There is a growing belief that Hayward may choose Miami, but Boston and Brad Stevens certainly have a chance. Do you think he’ll end up in Celtics green this summer?