Boston Celtics: 3 sign-and-trade destinations for Gordon Hayward

The Boston Celtics could opt to sign-and-trade Gordon Hayward this offseason, and there are a few teams that could be viable landing spots.

The Boston Celtics and Gordon Hayward are likely heading for a split this offseason.

After pushing back Tuesday’s deadline to decide on whether or not the forward will opt-in or out of his current deal with the franchise to today, speculation still is running rampant, with many believing he could opt-out and do a sign-and-trade to land on a different team’s roster.

With this, the team has quite a few options they could opt to partake in, as it is rumored Hayward has peaked the intrigue of numerous teams around the league.

This past year, Hayward found himself posting his best season averages since his All-Star days back in Utah.

Through 52 games played, Hayward posted averages of 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 50 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from downtown. On the year he proved to be the team’s best facilitator and one of their most consistent shooters.

Thanks to his production, he could serve as a solid acquisition for any number of teams looking to add a sound scoring veteran to their roster.

Should the Boston Celtics go the sign-and-trade route, we believe there to be 3 specific teams that could prove to be solid destinations for Gordon Hayward:

Sign-and-trade destination No. 1) Indiana Pacers

The idea of the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers participating in a deal involving Gordon Hayward has been one floated around quite often this offseason.

Frankly, we at the Houdini are enamored with the idea, as it could prove to be a feel-good move for the forward, for he is an Indiana-native, while also providing the shamrocks with a solid potential return package, including a possible answer to their center woes.

The most oft mentioned return piece in any deal between these two franchises is Myles Turner, who is rumored to be a player of interest for the C’s front office.

In 2019-20, the 23-year-old center posted solid averages of 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a whopping 2.1 blocks per game on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 34 percent shooting from deep.

If acquired he would easily be Boston’s best option at the pivot both offensively and defensively and could be a long-term fixture at the position for years to come to grow alongside the team’s young cornerstones in Jayson Tatum (22) and Jaylen Brown (24).