Report: Celtics boss Danny Ainge ‘wants to do a deal,’ eyes Gordon Hayward, but overvalues players like Marcus Smart

Report: Celtics boss Danny Ainge ‘wants to do a deal,’ eyes Gordon Hayward, but overvalues players like Marcus Smart

By WEEI

Danny Ainge’s hunt for a superstar continues.

Noted NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on his Vertical podcast (fast-forward to 35-minute mark) on Wednesday that Ainge is itching to pull the trigger on a deal for a star, but as usual is finding the going rough.

One name to keep an eye on: impending free agent swingman Gordon Hayward of the Jazz, who played for Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler and has emerged as a potential All-Star this year.

“Danny’s wanted to strike and, like everybody else, get that big star, get that big player,” Wojnarowski said. “[Al] Horford was a big play and a great get in free agency. They can still keep their eye on Gordon Hayward from Utah who’s an unrestricted free agent this summer who played for Brad Stevens at Butler. I think there’s still strong hope in Utah that he’ll want to stay there.”

One problem hamstringing Ainge, according to Wojnarowski, is that he’s overvaluing players in trade talks, particularly misfiring guard Marcus Smart.

“Boston’s interesting in that (they have) some good young players, they have draft picks they can put in deals and they have some veterans that hold some interest in places,” Wojnarowski added. “I do wonder sometimes if Boston might overvalue some of the players they have compared to what the rest of the league sees in them. I think Marcus Smart might be starting to fall into that category. His name’s been in some talks previously, and they’ve been pretty careful about who they’d give him up for.”

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We have Crowder at small forward backed up by Jalen Brown.

One of them would have to go if they traded for Haywood.  Beside that he will be a free agent this summer so they could probably sign him without trading.

I really do not see that happening.  Celts got Crowder locked in for very short money.    Trades should be made based on needs and  salary considerations.

Haywood has developed into a petty solid offensive player although he defense is not at that level.  He will be looking for a max contract.

dboss

Although Ainge may favor his players and think very highly of especially the young ones even knowing that he has too many guards, I really think that he holding back in trades for guys like Haywood because he does not want to even consider making a trade now for a guy who will be a free agent next summer that will include either of the Nets first round picks that he has in his back pocket.

There is no way that Utah would trade Haywood for only Bradley and guys at the end of the Cs bench. They will have to have at least get Jalen Brown or one of the Nets picks plus Bradley and some of the bench depth the Cs have. Haywood is a very good player, but he is not worth giving up one of the Nets picks for only a little more than a guaranteed half season. Also, Haywood will be a free agent next summer and will cost no players or picks at that time if Ainge considers him a max contract type of player.

for sheets and giggles.....

three team deal:

Utah sends
Hayward to Celtics
J. Ingles to Philly

Philly sends
Noel and H. Thompson to Celtics

Celtics send
Bradley , Zeller and Nets first next year to Utah ( Hayward agrees to extension to give up Nets pick).
Crowder and Celtics 2018 first round pick to Philly.


Noel and Thompson are both RFA next year.

new roster:

Horford
Kelly O- RFA next year
Amir- UFA next year
Noel- RFA next year
Jerebko- UFA next year
Mickey
Hayward- extended as part of trade
Jaylen
Green- UFA next year
Thompson- RFA next year
Young- RFA next year?
Smart
Thomas
Rozier
Jackson

worth it?
does it move the needle?

So, there is no talk about Nadar . is he going to be on the summer league team. #1 player in the D League this past year

Without a sign and trade I do not believe that Hayward can be traded to anyone at this time.

And, for the same reason that he is likely to remain in Utah after July 1st - MONEY - he is highly unlikely to agree to a sign and trade at this time.

For his financial future he has to at least wait until July first to even lean one way or another.