Boston Celtics: realistically evaluating Gordon Hayward’s trade value

What he brings to the lineup

Gordon Hayward, in theory, brings everything to the floor. At 6’8″, he can get to the rim using a combination of athleticism and shiftiness. His lateral movement has slowed since he arrived in Boston–a gruesome leg injury in his first five minutes in uniform being the main culprit–but he has been picking his spots well this season being surrounded by so much new talent.

Just earlier this year, before injuries sidelined the ten-year vet, he was playing like a potential All-Star. He was averaging over 20 points per game, and my co-editor Mark Nilon thought this could be the quintessential year of his Beantown tenure:

"Thus far into the 2019-20 campaign, Gordon Hayward has played wonderfully. In 34.2 minutes a game — almost 10 more than last season — the small forward is averaging 20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on 57% shooting from the field and an incredible 50% shooting from downtown."

That was seven games in. When Hayward injured his hand, the attention shifted from what he brought to the hardwood, to what it’d be like without him on the floor.

That the Boston Celtics continued winning didn’t exactly speak to Hayward’s value. While he was missed on the floor, the C’s survived without him for the most part.

Obviously, Hayward is a top-tier star who could be the best player on several teams. Put him on the Knicks and he’d have a billboard in Times Square. In the Celtics lineup, though, he is a just another cog in a machine that has survived the loss of Kyrie Irving in the playoffs.

He has value. It’s just that his absence is far from crippling, making his near team-high salary figure a questionable investment given holes across the roster.