Polarizing former Boston Celtics forward lands in even more brutal media market in proposal

If you thought the Boston media was tough on Gordon Hayward, then one can only imagine what the New York media, and mostly, the passionate and oftentimes aggressive New York fans, would do to the polarizing former Boston Celtics signing as the 33-year-old enters a contract year. NBA Analysis Network’s James Piercey composed a mock trade proposal that’d send Hayward to the Big Apple involving Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose’s dead money and heading to the Hornets — along with the right to swap first-round picks in 2029.

Piercey believes the Knicks could get value out of Hayward during the 2023-24 season while losing very little in terms of current roster production.

“The Knicks have a few reasons to do this deal,” Piercey prefaced before saying, “They’re acquiring Hayward’s expiring contract. The Knicks are getting away from Fournier’s contract, and cleaning up their books in the process. Of course, they’re also getting another useful player. Hayward will be a more prominent member of this rotation than either Rose or Fournier. He may not be a star anymore, but he remains a solid playmaking forward.  Finally, they’re only moving a pick swap. They aren’t losing the trade asset altogether – the Knicks could still trade their swap rights down the road if they wanted to.”

The Knicks could use former Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward for multiple purposes

Piercey explained the multiple tactical scenarios from a cap perspective the Knicks could consider after a potential Hayward acquisition.

“The Knicks could clean up their future salary cap spending obligations while also giving themselves Hayward’s Bird rights, creating the option to exceed the salary cap next summer to re-sign him, if they determine it to be the best option,” Piercey wrote. “Another angle for the Knicks could be to enter the season with Hayward, then to use his contract for salary matching purposes at the midseason deadline if an opportunity presented itself.”

All in all, this would be a worthwhile trade for the Knicks considering the low risk relative to the potentially prolific upside in a contract year. Hayward is likely a high-end backup at this stage of his career, though parlaying a strong sixth-man season in New York would likely get him one last big role — and potentially with it, one last sizeable multi-year payday, in 2024.