Taking stock of Gordon Hayward's situation and remaining free agent targets for Celtics

Night one of free agency has come and gone and it ended up being a very busy one around the association with dozens of signings and trades after things kicked off at 6 p.m. ET.

The Celtics have not been an active team as of Saturday morning, largely because their offseason moves are largely dependent on what happens with Gordon Hayward’s future. Negotiations about a sign-and-trade with the Pacers will pick up again today according to a league source after Hayward told the C’s that Indy is his preferred destination. Whether or not the Pacers make an offer appealing enough for Danny Ainge to pull the trigger on sending a member of his core to an East playoff rival remains to be seen.

This is an evolving situation though as the free-agent market becomes more settled. What impact did other moves around the league have on the potential Hayward negotiations? Plus, what options are still out there for the Celtics with their mid-level exception when the dust settles? Let’s get updated on where things stand heading into Day 2 and what to watch for.

Who is the top bidder for Hayward?

For now, Marc Stein of the New York Times is reporting it’s the Pacers who are willing to give Hayward a four-year deal worth close to $100 million. Those terms would surely make Hayward happy but the Pacers don’t have the cap room to sign him outright so they will need Boston’s cooperation via a sign-and-trade to get him to Indy.

Does Hayward have any leverage with the Celtics still?

Technically, yes. There are still three teams with cap room after the opening night of free agency, which are the Knicks ($29 million), Hawks ($25 million) and Hornets ($19 million). The Hawks used a big chunk of their cap room to sign Danilo Gallinari to a three-year deal, which makes them feel like a less likely landing spot given the overlap in skillset with Hayward. However, they still have the cash to make a big offer if they want. The Knicks have stayed quiet in free agency beyond signing Alec Burks to a one-year deal so they probably loom as the biggest walkaway threat right now for Hayward if the Celtics and Pacers can’t come to terms on a sign-and-trade. Marc Stein reports that the Knicks have made a two-year offer but it’s for less annual money than the Pacers deal. The Hornets probably need to clear a little more cap room to get into the Hayward derby or they could work a sign-and-trade with Boston if Hayward is open to going there.

What should the Celtics be hoping for?

We are likely to see some kind of movement in negotiations in the coming hours. The best thing that could happen from a Celtics perspective would be the Knicks and Hawks using their cap room on other top free agents still available (Fred VanVleet, Bogdan Bogdanovic) and effectively take themselves out of the Hayward derby. At that point, all of the leverage in the Hayward sign-and-trade negotiations shifts to the Celtics. Ainge can hold out for what he wants from Indiana, tell Hayward to find another team that has better stuff to offer in a sign-and-trade or he can make an offer to bring back Hayward to Boston for a couple more seasons at a number that makes sense for both sides.

Eliminating the walk threat would be a big boon for Boston in both trade and contract negotiations. However, it’s very possible that Ainge believes the Celtics are in a decent position right now if he thinks Hayward doesn’t really want to go sign with a non-playoff team in New York, Atlanta or Charlotte. Those squads may just be in play for posturing by Hayward's agent, especially if they aren’t offering Hayward a big money long-term deal like the Pacers. Ainge knows Hayward’s top preference is going home to Indy but his second choice may be staying in Boston over signing with one of his other suitors if a Pacers deal doesn't come to be.

What about other potential free agent signings? Who’s still left on the market that the Celtics could target for the mid-level or other exceptions?

Let’s start with the biggest names still out there in free agency right now. These are guys the Celtics won’t have a chance at signing but could technically still go to a team with cap room to impact the Hayward situation.

Brandon Ingram (restricted)
Fred VanVleet
Gordon Hayward
Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted)

After that, there is a tier of mid-level to minimum guys although a couple of the bigger names here could go to Hawks/Knicks/Hornets for more than mid-level money.

Bigs: Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap, Hassan Whiteside, Tristan Thompson, Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, Dewayne Dedmon, Harry Giles, Nerlens Noel, Alex Len
Guards/Wings: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jae Crowder, Shaq Harrison, Mo Harkless, De’Anthony Melton (restricted), E’Twaun Moore, Kris Dunn, Avery Bradley, Bryn Forbes, Torrey Craig (restricted)
Point guards: Elfrid Payton, Rajon Rondo, Jeff Teague, DJ Augustin, Shabazz Napier, Reggie Jackson, Jevon Carter, Brad Wanamaker, Yogi Farrell

The Celtics will certainly be spending on a guard/wing if Hayward is traded (depending on what’s coming back) and they will also add some kind of big as well. There’s a long list of appealing names that could be available for closer to the minimum so the C’s likely feel they can get someone good on that front (if they aren’t taking back Myles Turner in a Hayward trade). A veteran point guard in some form (Wanamaker or another name on this list) feels likely to compete for minutes with Payton Pritchard as well and whoever makes the roster out of Tremont Waters and Carsen Edwards. 

A look at the C's current depth chart

Ballhandling Gs (4): Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Payton Pritchard, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters (two-way)

Wings (6, 2 non-guaranteed): Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Aaron Nesmith, Romeo Langford (injured), Javonte Green (non-guaranteed), Semi Ojeleye (non-guaranteed)

Bigs (3): Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, Grant Williams, Tacko Fall (two-way)

What to watch for Saturday

Semi Ojeleye’s contract becomes fully guaranteed if he’s still on the roster so he could be sent packing or traded by 5 p.m. if the C’s want to open up that roster spot. Beyond that, the Hayward waiting game continues.