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Gordon Hayward To Miami Would Turn Up Heat On Celtics

By Harry Bachrach

Jan 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Utah Jazz guard / forward Gordon Hayward (20) takes a shot while guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during the third quarter at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Utah Jazz guard / forward Gordon Hayward (20) takes a shot while guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during the third quarter at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Miami Heat have joined the Boston Celtics in the race to sign Gordon Hayward.

This would spell trouble for the Boston Celtics as it would most likely catapult the Miami Heat into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. While the Utah Jazz are still the favorite to re-sign Hayward due to bird rights and roster talent, an Eastern Conference foe signing away a coveted wing player would truly sting.

Gordon Hayward would give the Heat a legitimate threat on the wing and another star to add next to Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Neither Dragic nor Whiteside were all-stars in 2017, but when each have good seasons, they are usually in the discussion. With Hayward in and Bosh out, the Heat’s starting lineup next season might look something like this:

PG: Goran Dragic

SG: Justise Winslow 

SF: Gordon Hayward

PF: James Johnson

C: Hassan Whiteside

This would be a young, athletic, talented starting lineup with a very good player in Tyler Johnson coming off of the bench. Also, the Heat might be able to re-sign Dion Waiters, giving them a talented 7-man rotation. For those who thought their 30-11 finish to last season was a fluke, adding Hayward would only help their cause for starting next season where they left off.

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Hayward signing with the Heat would be particularly tough to swallow for the Celtics given Brad Stevens was his coach at Butler University. The Celtics aren’t known for being a free agent destination and losing a seemingly perfect fit at a position of need would be hard.

Hayward fills key holes in the roster. He can create his own shot, scoring 21.9 points per game last season as well as a three point percentage of 39.8%.. His percentage from beyond the arc last season would put him in a tie with Jae Crowder for best on the team.

Given Hayward’s age,27, it would line him up better to compete with the future core of the Celtics, Brown, Rozier, the 2017 first round pick, and the 2018 first round pick. In 2 or 3 years, Hayward would still be at the back end of his prime while the aforementioned core would be just entering their primes.

Losing out on Hayward to the Heat would shift the landscape of the Eastern Conference and the Celtics’ outlook on the offseason. I believe the Heat with Hayward could land as high as the fourth or fifth seed come playoff time next season. Given that circumstance, the Chicago Bulls would be my pick to just miss the playoffs, giving them a strong case to trade Jimmy Butler.

Simply, losing Hayward to another team in the east would mean the Celtics would either not add a ball handler on the wing this offseason or overpay for a player like Jimmy Butler in a trade.

Next: Boston Celtics Roster Battle: Amir Johnson vs Kelly Olynyk

The Celtics should push hard for Hayward and hope the recent success of the Jazz or their money doesn’t lure him back to Utah. Besides, since when has a free agent ever clamored to go to Utah?

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