SALT LAKE CITY – For years the Celtics have been hoping to deliver fireworks during the offseason.
How ironic would it be that on the Fourth of July they finally get those fireworks courtesy of Gordon Hayward, the team’s No. 1 free agent target who will reportedly decide between Boston, Utah and the Miami Heat sometime today.
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Speaking with a league official familiar with the Jazz’ pitch to Hayward, the organization is “cautiously optimistic” they can re-sign the 27-year-old who has spent his entire NBA career with the Jazz.
“But [the Jazz] totally understand if he decides to head east to Boston or Miami,” the official told CSNNE.com. “Both teams, you worry about. But you worry more about Boston because of where they are at right now and how much I know Gordon wants to be in a winning culture, a winning environment.”
He was referring to the Celtics winning more games last season (53) than any other team in the East while advancing to the Eastern Conference finals before losing in five games to Cleveland.
Throw in the fact the Celtics return their core group of players from that team, and it’s not that hard a sell for Hayward to see himself being added to a team that’s on the cusp of competing for championships sooner rather than later.
This morning I spoke with another source, who has known Hayward for years, about him fitting in with Miami.
“The basketball part, he would be fine with that,” the source indicated. “But all that other stuff that comes with being in Miami … I don’t see that making them any more or less attractive. People forget, he’s from Indianapolis, his wife is from Indianapolis so you’re not going to wow them with all that ‘nightlife, it’s cool to be here’ stuff. He wants to play for a winner, a team that can compete. Miami isn’t there right now, but look at Pat Riley’s track record? Miami will be back in the thick of things sooner or later.”
And then there is the Jazz, the only franchise he has ever known. Utah advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season.
Utah has not stood by idly in free agency, having traded for Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio, who gives Hayward a pass-first point guard whose playmaking should make Hayward's job a little easier if he were to return to Utah.
The Jazz also came to terms on a four-year, $52 million deal with Joe Ingles, who is one of Hayward’s best friends and is also represented by the same agent, Chicago-based Mark Bartelstein.
"The only thing everyone agrees on is, Gordon can't really lose no matter which team he chooses," said one of the sources. "They're all good franchises, are well-run, have some decent players. I'm not sure which will be tougher for him; picking the team or telling the other two he's not coming."