Could the Celtics sign-and-trade Gordon Hayward for … no one?

What are Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics trying to pull off with the Atlanta Hawks help, exactly?

Whatever the Boston Celtics are up to with Gordon Hayward and the Atlanta Hawks, it seemingly involves a sign-and-trade for the Butler product.

It’s worth noting that Hayward could easily just choose not to opt into the final season of his current deal to join them, so he seems to be trying to do his college (and current) coach’s team a solid.

But it’s the question of what exactly it is the Celtics are hoping to get back that might be the most interesting clue as to what they are up to.

The Hawks have more cap room than any other team in the league right now, and don’t seem interested in using it to take on bad salary.

What is especially interesting for the Celtics however is that the two teams could link up with a third to send a star (or several players on a non-max deal) back to the Celtics.

And it doesn’t have to be a simultaneous trade, either.

There may be a target in mind, with unsubstantiated rumbles about James Harden loose in the NBA media ecosystem.

If there is though, it’s more likely another player that dreams of the Beard in green and white provide cover for — and even if it is merely securing a trade exception as a parting gift, it’ll cost the Celtics something for Atlanta’s trouble.

And if there isn’t, it puts the Celtics in a better position than Hayward simply leaving, allowing the Celtics to use a massive trade exception his outgoing salary would create.

While not as sexy as stealing Harden from under the nose of the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and other East rivals, it would allow Boston to maintain critical salary cap flexibility to add new talent before the trade deadline.

With no further clues as to what might actually be going on behind the scenes, we — like you — wait for this developing story to further unspool.

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