The NBA trade rumors continue as the Boston Celtics have multiple targets, not just a big man.
Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz would be a perfect fit for Coach Brad Stevens' system with Boston and it's very evident since he actually played for Stevens in Butler on their Cinderella run. It seems like a no-brainer that the Celtics would have Hayward on their radar as Celtics site Hardwood Houdini points out.
"If you Google 'Gordon Hayward trade' half of the links will lead you to an article saying that Hayward should be traded to Boston," HH's Sean Ryan noted. "This is mainly because of coach Brad Stevens. Hayward played under Stevens' tutelage for two years at Butler." That included the run where they went all the way to the Final Four but fell to Duke.
Ryan is very optimistic that Hayward would be attainable for the Celtics as he mentioned that "it just remains to be seen a package that could be put together for him."
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Utah Jazz has developed a player who can take over the role that Hayward contributes, thus enabling the Jazz to take heed of a possible Boston offer.
"Dealing Hayward now would act as a hedge against his free agency and perhaps land Utah a top-five pick -- one last shot at finding that elusive superstar," Lowe said. "The Jazz have to at least think about calling Boston and Brad Stevens, Hayward's college coach, about a deal sending Hayward to the Celtics for the Nets pick, and maybe another first-rounder."
The Jazz place great value in Hayward, but if Ainge dangles high draft picks, they may have to think twice.