Celtics Notebook: Enes Kanter cleared to play, Hayward awaiting word on surgery

A few important tidbits after the Celtics' took part in shootaround this morning in Brighton. 

Gordon Hayward decision awaits

Hayward is meeting with the doctor today and could have surgery as soon as this afternoon, according to the team.

The 29-year-old flew down with a Celtics' trainer to New York Monday morning to meet with a hand specialist, according to Brad Stevens. 

"I have not heard," Stevens said Monday morning. "I’ve been on the court or in film since he had his doctor’s appointment this morning. So I’m guessing when I get back I’ll have a text that tells me what the next step is, but he’s at the doctor’s right now with one of our trainers and they’ll decide whether or not to do surgery."

Dr. Flynn projects a 4-6 week timeline for Hayward's return based on the reported break of the fourth metacarpal bone in Hayward's hand. Surgery could speed up that timeline towards four weeks, if the specialist deems it would help.

Hayward's teammates responded to how the team will need to overcome his absence on Monday.

"I'm just glad it's his left hand. It's not his right hand," Enes Kanter said. "I mean, I was very sad for him but I know he's a warrior. I know he's going to come back stronger and do his best to get rehab. He wants to be out there with his teammates and help him win. The crazy thing is he was playing an unbelievable season. Like I said at the beginning of the season, he's back 100 percent and he's going to shock the world and then he was shocking the world. Now, he gets the injury, but I know he's going to come back and be amazing again."

“It’s going to be tough because he was playing great, we were playing great as a team," Jayson Tatum added. "But, just next-man-up mentality. Next guy has to be ready.”

Enes Kanter cleared to play

The big man will be back in the lineup after sitting out the last seven games with a bruised knee that he suffered during opening night. He may have a minutes restriction on him but the Turkish center is eager to get back on the floor. He explained how the training staff wanted to be safe with his recovery as the reason for his extended absence.

"They just wanted me to be 100 percent," he said. "They just didn't want me to be 95 percent, they wanted me to be 100 percent and feel comfortable. It's more of a confidence thing because when you come back from an injury and when you are playing 5-on-5, you are still thinking about it. You're still thinking about what's going to happen. I played 1-on-1 yesterday, two days ago I played 5-on-5. I feel pretty confident. We'll see how it feels tonight."

Romeo Langford recalled from Maine

The rookie swingman is back in the fold for the C's after playing his opener with the Red Claws on Saturday night. However, even in the wake of Hayward's injury his stay with Boston may not be a long one according to Brad Stevens.

"Romeo will be here this week and then we’ll make the assessment after that," Stevens said. "If he’s not—knock on wood we don’t have any injury issues or anything else—then we just want to get him as much time as possible. So we would probably send him back at the end of the week, but that’s totally dependent on what’s going on with our team."