Whatever the Boston Celtics and veteran forward Gordon Hayward are up to, they just got a little more time to try and pull it off.
Per multiple sources, Hayward and the Celtics have been granted an extension to delay his decision until this Thursday after petitioning the league.
The Celtics forward had a decision-date in his contract on whether to opt-in earlier than most of his peers, forcing him to decide today, whereas most players will be doing so on Thursday, November 19th (at 5pm for both days).
Evidently, something is in the works that made that date disadvantageous to all parties.
Hayward's option deadline is now officially Thursday afternoon, sources tell ESPN. Both sides get more time to assess the situation. https://t.co/lhV5FD3PHh
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 17, 2020
Hayward was otherwise able to leave and test the market if he so chose.
Boston is unable to do much if he chose not to opt into the final year of his current deal to the tune of $34.2 million dollars, it seems something is under construction given their total lack of leverage.
If nothing else, Hayward potentially agreeing to wait on opting-in is a sign Boston's worst case scenario (Hayward walking away with nothing coming back for Boston) is probably not going to happen. Otherwise, there would be little reason for a delayed decision.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 17, 2020
Occam’s razor suggests a sign-and-trade somewhere the Indiana native would prefer – perhaps to the oft-rumored Pacers of his home state — could be the hold-up.
There is of course always the possibility that Hayward is simply having trouble with a career-defining decision, and that the organization that was patient with him during his healing is simply doing the same once again.
But we doubt it.
Check back often — we’ll be updating this developing story as it unfolds.
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