Boston Celtics: Gordon Hayward injury update comes at an ideal time

Gordon Hayward continues his recovery from a horrific leg injury suffered in the first quarter on opening night. The Boston Celtics have released the latest recovery update, the timing of which could be ideal.

The latest Gordon Hayward injury update was released yesterday, as the All-Star forward continues his long recovery back to full health. Via the Boston Globe, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens revealed some extremely positive news on his expected timeframe to return.

"“Everything is good and pointed toward being back exactly where he was — hopefully pain-free, because that plate is taken out — in the middle of July, which probably points to an early August, mid August fully cleared time frame.”"

A target date of August for full medical clearance would mark a nine-month rehab for Hayward, who lasted less than a quarter before suffering the gut-wrenching injury on opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With the Celtics right in the thick of trade and free agency rumors, the timing of the Hayward update couldn’t have come at a better time. This is absolutely not to suggest the news was strategically leaked, but from an outsider’s point of view, it could be timely.

Via Spotrac, Hayward is owed approximately $64 million over the next two seasons before he will reach a decision on whether or not to exercise his player option for 2020-21. Given he is locked down for two more seasons on his deal, he becomes an attractive prospect on the trade market if the Celtics decide to go down that path.

With Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James as potential targets, Hayward’s hefty salary becomes valuable for matching dollar amounts.

After missing an entire season, acquiring Hayward may hold some major concerns for rival franchises who might question his ability to get back to full health. The latest news that he is on track to be fully fit for preseason would certainly be a source of some comfort in trade discussions.

After a highly publicized exit from Utah, it would seem inconceivable that the Celtics would move on from Hayward without witnessing him strut his stuff on the famous parquet floor.

However, Leonard and James are MVP-caliber players, and stranger things have happened. The emergence of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum has allowed the Celtics’ front office to enter the free agency period with endless possibilities, a loaded asset chest rocketing them to the top of all player movement discussions.

It should never surprise how quickly we can forget though, after just 12 months out of the game, how great Hayward was in Utah. According to Basketball-Reference, Hayward was one of only 12 players league-wide to average more than 20 points, five rebounds and three assists per game in 2016-17. When you add in the criteria of shooting greater than 38 percent from beyond the arc, that select group is reduced to just two players — Hayward and Paul George.

Hayward is an elite talent, one that devastatingly got taken away from us this past season. But we’ve all been forced to understand that this is a business, and when we are talking about NBA franchises, there is no longer any room for sentiment.

If I had to guess, my money would be on Hayward tipping off the season a Celtic. That would be the heartwarming story the NBA world would love to see, but it doesn’t always work that way. At the end of the day, a healthy Hayward returning to play the sport he loves is the goal.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Final edition

With that being said, the timing of this latest update may well intrigue an opposing GM just enough to chase the former Butler Bulldog — Koby Altman and R.C Buford in particular.