The Bulldogs are back in Beantown!: Hayward signs with Celtics

By Patrick Zeng
@Roundtripper891

📸: CelticsHub
For the third consecutive year, a major domino has fallen in NBA free agency on the Fourth of July. Following in the footsteps of LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant before him, Gordon Hayward made his highly anticipated free agent decision to reject the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat to go join the Boston Celtics via the playerstribune.

However this signing has much more behind it than an incredibly gifted player choosing to strengthen the team that claimed the #1 seed in the eastern conference this past season. Hayward's leap from Utah to Boston also acts as a homecoming of sorts as he will be reunited with his college coach Brad Stevens. Stevens has been with the Celtics since 2013, establishing a reputation as one of the better coaches in the NBA. Haywards time with Stevens ranged from 2008-2010 before becoming a first round pick of the Jazz. Stevens' and Hayward's time together culminated with the 2010 national championship game when Butler came within a friendly roll off the backboard(on a shot from Hayward himself) from defeating Duke.

📸: IndyStar
From an organizational standpoint, the signing also reflects that its time for Danny Ainge and the Celtics to start winning, and no the #1 seed in the east doesn't count for that when you're easily dispatched by LeBron James' Cavs. Ainge has been famous for stockpiling draft picks and planning for the future, but it's time for the future to be now in Boston. With the offseason additions of Jayson Tatum(who I believe will turn out to be the best player in the draft class) and Gordon Hayward only strengthen a very solid contender. After a failed attempt to snag Paul George from the Pacers, the Celtics are still loaded with assets. 

With a young group of players to go along with Brooklyn's first round pick next year and the picks they were able to stockpile from the 76ers in the Markelle Fultz deal, Boston has the firepower to go out and make a move. Kristaps Porzingis of the Knicks would make a lot of sense for Boston to add with his 7'1" frame and ability to knock down a jumper, however with the Knicks in turmoil(what's new?) that deal may not be as likely as it could have been a few weeks ago.

📸: SportsIllustrated
Hayward's signing is a great one for the Celtics. His familiarity with the coach to go along with his 20 plus points a night as a career 50% shooter and plus defense make the Celtics a better team, that much is clear. But are they better than the Cavs should be the only question that matters to the Celtics higher ups. And as it stands, I don't believe they have enough firepower to charge past Cleveland as long as they continue to stockpile future assets. In the words of Casey Stern(@CaseyStern) "Prospects are cool, championship parades are cooler".


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