3 things the Boston Celtics should NOT do this trade season
By Mark Nilon
Trade Gordon Hayward away for anything less than an All-Star
Due to his contract situation coupled with high-level of production so far this season, Gordon Hayward has found himself linked to nearly every hypothetical trade-package concocted in 2019-20. The most polarizing talents rumored to be on the Boston Celtics’ radar this season have been players that would require the C’s to ship the 29-year-old out in order to make the numbers work.
Now look, it’s no secret that we aren’t necessarily opposed to trading away Hayward — as we have proposed numerous deals including the wing that we believe would be beneficial for the team to make — but we think he should be viewed more as a high-valued player rather than an expendable contract.
Through 21-games the 10-year veteran is finding himself boasting his best season yet wearing green and white threads. Logging 31 minutes Hayward is averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and four assists per game on 53% shooting from the field and 38% shooting from deep. He ranks ninth at the position in PER this season and is finally starting to look like the player he “came here to be.”
Again, we are not trying to make the argument that Gordon Hayward should be seen as an “untouchable” on this Celtics squad, but when it comes to gauging his trade value, the return package should be expected to be high.
The most recent player linked to the Boston Celtics is OKC forward Danilo Gallinari. To make the numbers work for this potential deal, Danny Ainge would almost certainly need to include Hayward. And, while Gallo is a fine player who is having a fantastic season, no one should really see him as an upgrade at the position.
Many may have differing views on trades for players like Andre Drummond and Kevin Love, but at least you’d be getting All-Star level players in return who could easily be seen as improvements at the position for Boston.
Is Gordon Hayward an upper-echelon player this season? No. Still, with the way he’s been playing coupled with his track record from over the years and his age being on the right side of 30, the Celtics should not settle for someone with less potential than what the forward provides.
That potential, as we’ve seen in the past, is a 20+ points-per-game All-Star.