Danny Ainge talks Gordon Hayward's foot injury, Marcus Smart's return timetable

A host of injuries and illnesses have hit the Celtics' organization over the past two weeks despite a lengthy break in the schedule. We know the return estimates for a number of players (Rob Williams, Vincent Poirier) already, but there is still plenty of uncertainty regarding the statuses of Marcus Smart and Gordon Hayward entering the final weeks of 2019.

In his weekly appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Toucher and Rich, Danny Ainge provided some additional clarity to the foot injury that has been bothering Hayward for weeks, along with a potential return date for Marcus Smart.

Ainge on Hayward: “He was doing a lot of training and being able to work and he just has a toe/foot -- it’s right there, right where your toe connects with your foot. It’s just some pain and we’re trying to figure out what it is. He had a cortisone shot, hoping that would make it better, but it actually made it worse. So we’re trying to figure all that out. Nobody knows exactly what the issue is.”

Ainge currently lists Hayward as day-to-day despite the issue but an MRI that is expected to take place today should provide more info. The left foot is the same foot on which Hayward suffered a brutal ankle injury two years ago but the location of the injury (by the toe) doesn't appear to indicate much connection to the injury. Still, the fact that it has bothered him for weeks despite some lengthy rest makes it worth monitoring closely.

Ainge on Smart's eye infection: "He was just quarantined at home. But he’s been getting better. I’ve been talking to him every day. I’m hoping that he’ll be healthy -- he hasn’t played basketball or even been out of bed much over the last week, 10 days, so we need to get him back out on the court, sweating and making sure he’s healthy and feeling good.”

Brad Stevens originally guessed on a return timetable of 7-10 days for Smart, which would make him available for Friday's game against the Pistons. However, Ainge put on a more conservative projection on a return to the court for the veteran guard, listing a Christmas Day game in Toronto on Wednesday next week as a possible return target.

BSJ Analysis: The Celtics host a pair of sub .500 teams in Detroit (Friday) and Charlotte (Sunday) before the Christmas Day showcase. Boston should be able to take care of both teams with their current roster so it would not be surprising to see the training staff proceed cautiously and hold the Hayward/Smart out for these contests. However, Stevens did not hesitate to suggest that Smart would not need much time to get back into the swing of things earlier this week.

"He hasn’t been able to do much," Stevens said. "Am I worried about it as far as him getting back on the court and playing hard and competing and being a little winded? No. He’s one of those guys that can get in shape in like a 20-minute run and the rest of us look at him like, ‘What’s going on with that? Why can’t I do that?’ He can get back in quicker. But we just want him to get back on his feet and working out and feeling good. His eyes are still uncomfortable. That’s the biggest thing. He’s champing at the bit to get back at it."

The situation with Hayward sounds tricky obviously given the mystery surrounding the injury and how long its been bugging him for. Given the nature of the situation, it wouldn't surprise me to see a minute-limit or a rest plan come into play for him. For now, the evaluation period for this team gets tougher without a clear sign when everyone will be back at full strength.