TRADE NEWS: Trades That Would Be Considered Former Celtics Wing Scorers

TRADE NEWS: Trades That Would Be Considered Former Celtics Wing Scorers

In addition to wanting to be a contender, the Philadelphia 76ers also seek cap flexibility for the next summer. Zack Kram of The Ringer suggested a deal combining two former Boston Celtics players in order to give them the best of both worlds.

In a piece from January 17, Kram suggested the following trade: the Sixers for the Charlotte Hornets.

Grant to Sixers: Gordon Hayward

The Hornets will acquire two second-round selections, Robert Covington, and Marcus Morris Sr.

Kram outlined the reasons Hayward would make the Sixers a top trade target.

Hayward would be adequate as a jack-of-all-trades option on an expiring contract if cap flexibility is still a top objective. The 33-year-old former All-Star has been in Charlotte’s shadow for the last four years, but he is still a competent creator—he has averaged 4.6 assists per game this season, which is his best total in ten years.

Hayward gives the Sixers size and shooting down the wing, Kram continued.

“He’s still got enough shooting (36% from distance) to play without the ball. Additionally, he is still large enough to play on the perimeter with Maxey and De’Anthony Melton, giving 76ers head coach Nick Nurse another wing option.

Kram did not go too far into the reasons for the Hornets’ desire for Morris and Covington. Their contracts are also ending, much like Hayward’s.

Insider: Gordon Hayward Is Likely to Be Sold Out
The Hornets want to make some firesale adjustments, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. He only mentioned the three players that the Hornets want to retain.

With the backing of the new ownership, the Hornets have signalled that they will be more involved this deadline than they have been in past transaction windows. According to league officials, Charlotte reportedly has every player available but LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams,” Fischer wrote in a piece published on January 17.

One of the athletes is Hayward. Although there has been interest in the former Celtic, according to Fischer, a deal does not seem likely.

“A rival team offering $30 million to match veteran wing Gordon Hayward’s expiring salary is not likely to happen; instead, Hayward is more likely to switch teams through a buyout.”

The combination of Hayward’s salary and his history of injuries over the years has obviously destroyed his trade value.

Hayward informed George on January 1 that “in my opinion, it was just, we all had too many agendas, and the agenda to win the whole thing wasn’t the main one.” “It was all human nature, so I’m not blaming anyone either,”

Hayward went on to emphasise that no one’s personal goal coincided with another.

“I mean, I’m trying to establish that I’m still an All-Star since I’m returning from the previous season I played in. Despite having an injury the previous year, Kyrie Irving made it through the playoffs. In an attempt to demonstrate that this is still his squad. Then there’s Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier, who all started off and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals the previous season. They’re all attempting to demonstrate that they “have arrived.”

Even with such a good squad, the club did not play up to par. The Celtics were better the next season despite losing Irving, Morris, Terry Rozier, and Al Horford because, in Hayward’s words, there weren’t nearly as many “agendas.”

Matt John writes for Heavy.com about the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. He was born in Massachusetts and has been covering the NBA since 2018. He has worked for Basketball Insiders, FanSided, and Basketball News. Additional information on Matt John