Speculation continues to ramp up about the possibility that Gordon Hayward could return and the All-Star forward did little to pour any cold water on it on Friday night.
In just his second visit to the TD Garden this season, he spoke with the media before Friday's matchup against his former team. Upon questioning, Hayward left the door open to a return later in the season from his leg and ankle injuries.
“My mind is open to that," Hayward said when asked about the possibility of him playing this year. "I’m trying to get back as fast as I can. It all depends on how I heal and taking it day by day, goal by goal. We will see what happens.”
Hayward recently ditched his protective walking boot for good and is now wearing a brace as he continues his recovery.
“More mobility, so being able to walk around without as much help," Hayward said of the change to a brace. "I’m able to do a lot more stuff rehab wise like standing up, I don’t have to shoot in a chair anymore. Slowly but surely, I’ll keep adding to that. Right now, I’m doing stuff with the bike, slowly progressing to using a little bit of both legs and then the next step is both legs running and all that stuff so we will get there.”
The 28-year-old doesn't know how long he'll be in the brace but feels like it will be a considerable amount of time.
A few other highlights from the media session:
Hayward on choosing the Celtics over the Jazz: “No, I don’t regret anything. I, unfortunately, got injured, but happy to be here in Boston and happy to be a part of this team.”
On his decision-making process this summer: “It was a whirlwind experience. I don’t know if I could do it any faster than what I did. Went across the country three times, paying for my own private flight to get there as fast as I could. Obviously, I’ve talked about it before, but disappointed with the leak and everything, but the decision hadn’t been made at all until the decision was made and that’s that. That’s how I feel about that."
On traveling soon with the team: “I’ll expect to travel when I’m able to. Right now, my focus is rehab and trying to get all the right training, right work, so when I travel it will be when I’m able to.”