Eight things we learned at Celtics media day: Hayward's exit, Tatum's next step and more

In their first public comments since the start of free agency, Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens and Jayson Tatum had a lot to say about a very eventful offseason for Boston. Let's sort through some takeaways for the day ahead of the start of training camp later this week. 

1. Danny Ainge had a sense Gordon Hayward might have wanted out: The Celtics held out hope until the end that Hayward would re-sign, but when asked about Hayward’s decision to leave, it didn’t sound like much of a surprise.

“I was anticipating the possibility for the last few months,” Ainge said of his departure.

The main motivating factor appeared to be him getting a bigger role in the offense, something that was not going to be available to him in Boston with the team’s young core.

“I think he just wants to be involved in the offense more, having the ball in his hands to dribble and pass and participate in the offense a little bit more,” Ainge said. “But yeah, I’ve had a lot of players to come through here, and I’m sympathetic. I mean, I played with three first-ballot Hall of Famers in the starting lineup, I mean I wanted to have a more featured role too. I think it’s very common, and I think we’ve had some good players. Kemba, Jaylen and Jayson, Marcus, those guys demand the ball some, and I think if you ask each one of them, they’d probably like to have a little bit more of a featured role. But that’s the nature of our business that we’re in, that’s not any knock on Gordon in any way shape or form.”

Ainge clearly put together this team with the hope that everyone would be willing to sacrifice for the greater good, but that likely cost the C’s a chance at retaining Hayward at a reasonable price in his deal.

2. The Celtics had negotiations with multiple teams about a Hayward sign-and-trade: We have covered those trade talks with the Pacers, but it appears a few other teams also showed interest in a sign-and-trade with the veteran wing.

“I’m not going to comment on any conversations that I had,” Ainge said. “I’ll let others comment if they want but I'm not going to comment on conversations I had with teams involving other players from other teams. I will just say that Indiana was one of a handful of teams, maybe three or four teams would probably be a more accurate description, that we talked about the potential of sign and trades. And, as you know, with sign and trades the player controls that because, if we work out a deal with another team but Gordon doesn't want to go there, then he doesn't have to go there. It takes all three parties to be pleased.”

This is the first signal perhaps that the Celtics were interested in sending Hayward to a different destination than just Indiana, but Hayward balked at those other potential landing spots. In the midst of these negotiations, the Hornets likely upped their offer from a money standpoint, opening the door for them to sign the former All-Star after the Celtics and Pacers trade talks didn’t appear to be going anywhere.

3. The Celtics opening night roster is set for now: Despite an open roster spot and two potential rotation players out for the first few weeks due to injury, the Celtics won’t be bringing any more free-agent names into camp.

“I grew up in a time when we had a 12-man roster and often had people hurt when we had training camp, or early in the season,” Ainge said. “I feel like there’s nobody we want to cut or get off the team, and that’s the only way we can bring in more players. But this will be an opportunity for Marcus (Smart) to play some point guard again for us, like he did some last year, and did a very good job, and Jeff Teague, and Payton Pritchard and Tremont Waters. We believe in all those guys.

“This is an opportunity league, and there’s nothing I like more than when guys who don’t get a chance to play get a chance to step up and play. Carsen (Edwards) maybe will get a chance to play too. Aaron (Nesmith) may get a chance to play early in the season too. I understand those aren’t perfect situations to bring guys in without summer league or training camp, but let’s see what we have. I’m excited for it.”

4. The Celtics are going to play it extra safe with Kemba Walker’s recovery: After dealing with a knee injury for over a full calendar year now, the team will be easing him back into action carefully in the coming weeks. Once he does return to the floor, he will likely be on a minutes limit plan similar to his play in the Orlando bubble to better ensure a smooth recovery.

“This stretch will tell us a lot more,” Ainge said. “He saw some specialists over the last six or eight weeks, and they all came to the same conclusion. That gave Kemba a great peace of mind as he went to different doctors in our country and got the same opinions. He’s on a program, seems to be in a very good, happy spot.

“Maybe we didn’t do him justice by bringing him back too fast in the bubble, being hurt and finding some urgency during the regular season. We don’t want to make that mistake if it was a mistake this time. I’m not blaming anybody. But it’s not a perfect science. It’s guesswork, and we’re trying to do the best with the information that we have and get him as strong and healthy as he can be, so he can make it through the year.”

5. Look for Jeff Teague to have a big role early in the season: The 12-year veteran guard took just a veteran’s minimum deal to come to Boston, likely because he saw a chance at some bigger opportunities on a winning team. With Walker sidelined for weeks, Teague will have a chance to earn some starter minutes at point guard over Marcus Smart, as well as compete for minutes off the bench against Payton Pritchard and Tremont Waters. His playmaking ability as a passer should provide the Celtics with a boost no matter what his role is in the rotation.

“I think he’ll be really important, but I think that’s not just early in the season but all the way through,” Brad Stevens said. “I think that Jeff puts pressure on the defense in transition, he can get to where he wants to go on offense, and he can pressure the ball defensively. It fits in with everything we need on our team and how we play, especially continuing to do so with smalls. I think that, ultimately, he will undoubtedly be impactful, but those are the things that really stood out in bringing him in. It’s great to have him here. It says a lot about him that he would sign a deal to come here because he wants to win, he wants to help us win. I’m very appreciative of that.”

6. Jayson Tatum is still hungry to improve after signing five-year extension: The All-NBA forward signed the biggest contract in Celtics history last week but he says there’s still a lot he wants to improve on as he becomes the centerpiece of Boston’s future.

“I’m young, so every part of my game can get better,” Tatum said. “I can improve from a more efficient standpoint, I can continue to get stronger, extending my range, be more efficient shooting deeper, going off the dribble, finishing through contact, and becoming even more of a defensive presence. I think that is a big goal for me.”

7. Brad Stevens likes the Tristan Thompson fit around his young core: With the keys to the car being handed officially to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown this offseason, Boston’s focus this offseason was largely centered on complementing their talent. Stevens feels like Boston’s done just that with adding the mobile Cavs big man.

“I think first and foremost he’s such a threat at the rim," Stevens said. "I talked to him a little bit yesterday about being able to get to the rim off the action quickly because if he doesn’t get it off the initial action off the pass, he’ll certainly get it off the glass. He’s a tremendous offensive rebounder. He plays very physical on offense. He’s good with dribble handoffs, he’s good with fakes, and I think he’ll just continue to improve in those areas and I hope that our wings will, with all the attention they draw, that that will open up opportunities for him as well…He just gives you a lot of options, great physicality, a combination of lateral mobility, strength, and motor gives him a chance to guard a lot of people. So we thought that he was obviously important to add to our team. We think he complements our guys well and we’re excited he’s here.

8. Daniel Theis is feeling good after offseason knee surgery: While the Celtics will be down a couple of bodies at the beginning of training camp, Theis won’t be one of them after having a loose body removed from his knee back in October.

“The surgery went well,” Theis said. “It was just like they took out loose bodies in there. But everything went well. Rehab was great. Nothing compared to my meniscus surgery years ago. But everything is fine. I’ve got no limitations, I’ve got no restrictions on the court, so can’t wait for Friday when we finally start practices.”

Theis was up-and-down with his play during Boston’s postseason run but the knee issue wasn’t too much of a factor according to the big man.

“Less in basketball,” Theis said of the pain before surgery. “It was more like every day stuff when I walked and especially straightened my leg 100 percent. That’s when it bothered me the most. I had no issues on the court running and jumping and stuff. It was more like everyday stuff. And because the rehab and surgery were so quick I was able to just wait until after the season and just get it done either in preseason now, or the camp is short, I was able to just fix it and get it out.”

Theis will compete with Tristan Thompson for the starting center gig but look for both guys to play 20-25 minutes a night.