Boston Celtics: Initial reactions to Gordon Hayward signing with Charlotte

Saturday afternoon, it was reported that Gordon Hayward would be leaving the Boston Celtics, inking a $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

Boston Celtics fans, the Houdini gets it — you’re upset.

Not necessarily because Gordon Hayward has left the franchise, but it’s the way in which the split took place, and all the ideas of “what could have been” still ruminating at the forefront of your noggin.

As we all were heading to bed Friday night, rumors were starting to circulate that the Cs and Pacers were in talks to strike some sort of sign-and-trade that would have sent the Indiana native home.

When we arose, it appeared talks had picked up, and a reported trade involving Myles Turner and Doug McDermott coming to Beantown was said to be on the table — something we at HH have publicly longed for.

However, as the day wore on, the smiles plastered on fan’s faces started to droop more into frowns, as updates surfaced pertaining to the alleged talks between the franchises stating C’s General Manager, Danny Ainge, was ticking up the potential return package, even going as far as suggesting the team was asking to acquire both Turner AND Victor Oladipo.

As the minutes began to breeze by, anxiety started to set in upon those waiting for updates on the rumored negotiations.

Then, at about 1:30 PM (ET), the infamous Woj-bomb erupted: Gordon Hayward had signed a 4-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

When Saturday morning had arrived, all seemed to be going perfectly smooth for the Boston Celtics.

The small forward, who just put up his best season since signing with the franchise, apparently wanted to head back home to Indiana. With this rumored desire, a sign-and-trade was seemingly ready to be executed that would have brought the Celtics an answer at their weakest position at center.

All seemed right… until things went wrong.

Let me just state that we cannot fault Hayward at all for opting to take the contract with the Hornets. Frankly, this would be totally unfair for anybody to do.

We truly wish him nothing but the best and want to thank him for his efforts during his tenure in green and white.

Having said that, this is not to say that fans shouldn’t feel upset about what has transpired.

If the rumors are true, and that Indiana had offered a deal involving Myles Turner and Doug McDermott heading to Boston in exchange for Hayward who, by numerous accounts, wanted to play for the Pacers, Boston Celtics fans should be very disappointed in the team’s front office.

Disappointed that they got greedy by reportedly asking for more than the pretty package that was already offered.

Disappointed that they still don’t have that much-needed improvement within the team’s frontcourt rotation.

Disappointed that, for the second-straight year, they’ve managed to let another max-contract player walk away for nothing.

Let us assure you, we are quite aware that the Celtics are still a very talented team and that, at the end of the day, this is only a game.

Still, it doesn’t make the following statement any less true:

The start of the 2020 NBA offseason has been a complete and utter disappointment for Boston.

Let’s just hope Danny Ainge and co. can make up for the team’s porous start to this year’s free agency period.