Boston Celtics: realistically evaluating Gordon Hayward’s trade value

Verdict

It is difficult to truly know Hayward’s value at this point. While he can be seen as a superstar, the truth is that he is no longer someone seen as able to swing the pendulum for a given franchise. To delve into that further, Hayward’s free agency decision won’t be monitored like LeBron James‘ during the 2017-18 season or even Carmelo Anthony‘s during the 2013-14 campaign.

Hayward isn’t a franchise-altering star. If he showed up in Sacramento tomorrow, the Kings would still not be able to break into the Western Conference playoff picture. Slot him into the spot that Trevor Ariza just inherited, and the Trailblazers would likely still be downed in the first round of the playoffs.

I could go on and on about his value to different teams. Hayward has value on the Boston Celtics now, and it isn’t likely that there will be a better option that wouldn’t require myriad other assets to deal for.

Hayward could have been packaged with Jaylen Brown and/or Jayson Tatum for Anthony Davis back when the possibility of Kyrie Irving and Davis as a deadly pick-and-roll duo was alive. Now, it appears that Hayward is apart of a core that looks likely to stick for at least the rest of the season.

There was a point last summer where Hayward being traded for more value was the only outcome that made sense to me. I mocked up deals to several other squads across the league. Now, it makes sense for fans to grow used to seeing Hayward in a Boston Celtics uniform for the next 6-18 months.