SALT LAKE CITY – The second leg of Gordon Hayward’s free agent tour is in the books as the 27-year-old All-Star will head out west for one last meeting with the Jazz.
On Saturday Hayward met with the Miami Heat, followed by Sunday’s sit-down in Boston with the Celtics.
His final visit will be with the Utah Jazz, but it won’t be here.
Instead, Hayward will reportedly host the Jazz at his home in San Diego.
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You don’t want to read too much into that, but if you’re Miami and Boston you can’t feel all that great about the chances that he will bring them to his home to tell them he’s leaving.
Boston Celtics
Most likely, Hayward will listen to what the Jazz has to say and spend a couple of days mulling over the options that all three teams present to him.
His visit to Boston included a trip to Fenway Park along with some time spent with Boston’s All-Star tandem of Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford.
Of course, there was time spent with his old college coach Brad Stevens, who was there to pick him up at the airport.
And now begins the waiting game for Boston which has been totally transparent in being all-in for Hayward without a clear Plan B.
Boston was interested in trading for Paul George once they got word that Hayward would be coming aboard, but the Pacers didn’t want to wait so they instead traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo (a former college star at Indiana) and Domantas Sabonis.
The Celtics have expressed interest in Danilo Gallinari, arguably the best small forward on the free agent market after Hayward.
But like Hayward, the Celtics have stiff competition for the 6-foot-10 forward.
He was visiting with the Los Angeles Clippers this weekend who are reportedly trying to find a third team to execute a sign-and-trade for Gallinari who is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting a shade under 40 percent from 3-point range.