Boston Celtics: The top 3 Hawks and Pacers targets in a potential Hayward trade

This is likely the final day the Houdini will be able to publish a piece trading Gordon Hayward away from the Boston Celtics. Here are the top trade targets from the two teams most likely to acquire him.

Later today, the Boston Celtics are more than likely trading Gordon Hayward off the team. I have advocated for the 2017 All-Star to be traded for as long as I have been with Hardwood Houdini, and as I have always said…it has never been personal.

The Cs simply need to find a better way to spend $34 million and Hayward himself is likely better off elsewhere. It’s tough to survive a broken leg, a benching, more injuries, and then an entire global pandemic, and still think the best way forward is the way things have been.

That’s why it appears Hayward is all but set to be gone as soon as today:

"Interestingly, that pursuit could be in the form of a sign-and-trade, in which the Celtics would receive compensation for Hayward. But Haynes noted that the Hawks have enough cap space to sign Hayward outright in the event that the Celtics are unable to make a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta or any other team, a scenario in which Hayward becomes an unrestricted free agent. “Atlanta is seeking an alternative playmaker to incorporate alongside young star Trae Young,” Haynes wrote. The Celtics and Hayward agreed to move his opt-out deadline from Tuesday to Thursday, as both sides try to navigate the situation in a way that is mutually beneficial. Rumors and speculation have surrounded Hayward wanting to play for his hometown Indiana Pacers."

So it sounds like two different franchises have ambitions of landing Hayward. Assuming a deal goes down between one of these two teams, here are the top targets in what a Hayward deal: