Boston Celtics: The Gordon Hayward conundrum
By Adam Taylor
The pressure is on for the Boston Celtics following a summer of change. Gordon Hayward’s performances will be a huge factor in what success the franchise experiences this year.
Entering the third year of his four-year 127.2 million dollar contract, Gordon Hayward has it all to prove following his injury woes so far while wearing a Boston Celtics uniform.
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Having missed all of his first year due to the ankle injury sustained on opening night back in 2017, Hayward has been unable to show why the Celtics opted to pay him so handsomely.
At the end of the 2019-20 NBA season, Hayward will have a player option for the final year of his contract, worth $34.1 million. It’s easy to believe he will pick that up at the earliest opportunity.
However, to believe this before a ball has been bounced is somewhat shortsighted. Multiple factors will be considered when the time comes for Hayward to decide if he is to remain in Boston beyond next year, nothing is currently set in stone.
Realistically three scenarios can play out for Hayward this year provided he stays healthy, each of these scenarios deserver a closer look so that his contractual position is understood.