Boston Celtics: 3 Gordon Hayward trades to the Phoenix Suns

The Boston Celtics and Gordon Hayward seem likely to move on from each other, and the Houdini has come up with 3 scenarios that land him in Phoenix.

As the offseason rolls on, we here at Hardwood Houdini have tried to keep up with all of the trade scuttlebutt surrounding the Boston Celtics. Occasionally, there are trade ideas floating in our head that feel like they should be.

Gordon Hayward being dealt to the Phoenix Suns is one of those.

After Phoenix shocked the NBA world with an 8-0 seeding game run in the Lake Buena Vista bubble in Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, it appears that a win-now veteran could be the missing piece to the puzzle of the team breaking through the playoff picture.

Instead of pursuing Chris Paul, the Suns front office should consider these deals for Hayward instead:

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Replacing Gordon Hayward with a cost-controlled two-way player in Mikal Bridges is intelligent thinking, but the meat and potatoes of this deal is Jrue Holiday joining a backcourt that already includes Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart.

Why the Phoenix Suns do it

So we obviously covered why the Suns would be interested in Hayward, but this deal replaces Ricky Rubio’s weighty salary with Lonzo Ball not only on a rookie-contract but looking to prove that he can be somebody’s franchise point guard.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans do it

With Jrue Holiday very solidly on the trade block, the Pelicans need to maximize whatever his return would end up being…and that always includes plenty of draft stock.

Coming away with three first-round picks and two starter-level talents in Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre would be a master-class example of maximizing Holiday’s return.