The Boston Celtics are looking to make some major moves this offseason and Gordon Hayward is a free agent target along with Chandler Parsons and there also is a chance that Danny Ainge could trade Rajon Rondo after the team picked Marcus Smart in the draft, but right now that is not a primary concern for Brad Stevens as the team tries to woo players in free agency.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Hayward is a prime target for the Celtics, as they are looking for a solid scorer on the market and on top of that, his former Butler coach Brad Stevens is now with Boston. There have also been reports this offseason about the Indiana Pacers trying to swing a deal for Rondo and that talk had the Phoenix Suns also involved. While the trade is not close to happening yet, the Pacers and the Suns have had initial discussions about Goran Dragic moving after Phoenix drafted Tyler Ennis and the Celtics could potentially be the third team involved.
PBT and Marc Stein from ESPN.com report that the Pacers may try to engage the Celtics in a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns to try and get Rajon Rondo and that likely would mean the Celtics acquire Dragic. Ainge has said that the team isn't interested in trading Rondo, but that could change if a good enough deal came along, especially after drafting Smart. Ainge spoke about the draft pick of Smart at number six in the first round and he said that he feels Rondo and Smart can play together after Smart played both point guard and on the wing for Oklahoma State in college. Smart likely would have been a top three pick had he come out of college last year and now he is with the Celtics and he could be a very athletic scorer for the team and a top notch defender.
Hayward is a restricted free agent from the Utah Jazz and he reportedly has interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers along with the Boston Celtics. Last season Hayward scored 16 points per game with five rebounds and five assists and the Jazz appear ready to match offers for him, but there is always a chance they let him walk rather than pay up. Jeff Green has been mentioned in trade rumors since last season and there is a chance that a sign and trade deal could be coming down the line. The Phoenix Suns have also shown interest in Hayward and he could be getting an offer from that team as well.
The Celtics already made one move and kept Avery Bradley and he was set to be a restricted free agent and they opted to keep him in Boston on a four year deal for $32 million. Bradley has been an ace defensive player for the team and he also stepped up with Rondo injured, scoring over 14 points per game for the team for a career high. Bradley is a solid offensive player and can handle defensive assignments all over the court and he keeps the young core of the Celtics intact.
