All signs point to Gordon Hayward leaving the Boston Celtics by opting out of his deal with the team and pursuing a fresh start with another NBA franchise.
One team looking for a veteran star of Hayward’s caliber is the New York Knicks, who are hoping that the Celtics forward indeed opts out of his deal and enters free agency.
The Knicks have been aggressive in their pursuit of Gordon Hayward all week, sources say
Amid a growing belief leaguewide that Hayward will decline his $34 million player option for next season, New York may loom as Hayward's best option given all the Knicks' newfound cap space
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 19, 2020
Although Hayward is not the same player he was with the Utah Jazz and has battled injury issues ever since joining the Celtics, the 30-year-old is hoping to get back to form, and New York might be the ideal place to do just that.
In 52 games with the Celtics last season, Hayward averaged a respectable 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He also shot an impressive 50.0 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc during the 2019-20 campaign.
With the Knicks missing out on Chris Paul and potentially unable to land another big star like Russell Westbrook, the addition of Hayward might be a step in the right direction.
New York, much like Hayward, seeks to turn things around, making this potential partnership an intriguing one for both sides.
