Well, it looks like the Boston Celtics won't be losing Gordon Hayward for nothing after all.
Hayward last weekend reportedly agreed to a massive, four-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets after opting out of the final year of his deal with the Celtics. Many believed the C's would arrange a sign-and-trade with the Hornets after Hayward took his talents to Charlotte, and those expectations have come to fruition.
The Celtics will send Hayward and a pair of future second-round picks to the Hornets in exchange for a conditional future second-round selection.
Of course, Boston was forced to work with what it had once Hayward picked the apparent highest bidder. But had the Pacers offered the veteran forward the most lucrative contract, the C's reportedly could have acquired Myles Turner, a rotational player and a first-round pick via a sign-and-trade with Indiana.
That's now nothing more than a "what if," however. Boston has the fast-approaching 2020-21 season to focus on, with the first of two preseason games slated for Dec. 15.
