Celtics Talk Podcast: Realistic trade options for Gordon Hayward

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The Boston Celtics have a very important offseason coming up.

They are the only team with three first-round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, which gives the front office some options to improve the roster with young talent or the trade market. 

The team also has a few players with uncertain futures. 

Celtics center Enes Kanter has a player option for the 2020-21 season. If Kanter declines it, he'll become an unrestricted free agent. Brad Wanamaker is set for free agency as well, and if he leaves, the C's will need to fill the important backup point guard role. 

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But the real interesting debate involves Gordon Hayward's future with the team. He has a player option worth about $34 million for next season, and if he exercises it, he'll be eligible for free agency in 2021. What does his future with the team look like? 

One option for the Celtics is trading Hayward at some point. If Hayward were to leave in free agency, it's not like the Celtics will have a ton of salary cap space to replace him with a comparable player. Moving him for a player and/or draft picks does make sense depending on what's out there on the trade market.

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What are some realistic trade ideas for Hayward? Chris Forsberg and Kyle Draper discussed this topic on the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast.

"GM Forsberg is going to hit you with some trades here, Draper. Let me see if you like them," Forsberg said. "Call up Orlando -- your team is a mess. You need to make some decisions. You're going to get a chance to bring Gordon Hayward in and decide if he's part of your long-term future or clear $34.2 million. Would you give up Nick Vucevic and give the Celtics the center they sort of need?

"I think Orlando has to make a move at some point. Some people will say, what about (Magic forward) Aaron Gordon? Let's start with Vucevic. If (Orlando) is willing to move him, would you consider that deal?" 

Celtics Talk Podcast: Pondering Gordon Hayward’s future and a curious C's offseason | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Draper likes that scenario from the Celtics' side of things, but not so much from the Magic's perspective.

"If I'm Danny Ainge? Yes. But I don't know if I do that if I'm Orlando and here's why. You talk about clearing cap space or seeing if Hayward can be a part of their future. Let's be honest, if I'm Orlando and I'm trading a guy like Vucevic, there's not one player you could plug in and all of a sudden we make that leap.

"If I'm Orlando, I need some draft picks. I need a couple first-rounders, maybe. If you're the Celtics, do you dangle that, along with Hayward? That might make it a little more interesting, if you dangle that No. 14 pick. If I'm Orlando, unless I'm getting a known starter and a known guy I can rely on, or a young player, I'm not doing that deal. If I'm Danny Ainge, I do it because I think Vucevic fits in perfectly for the Celtics."

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Hayward played well for the Celtics last season. He averaged 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from the field in 52 games. The issue with Hayward is durability. His career in Boston has been derailed by injuries multiple times.

When healthy, Hayward has been a very good player for the Celtics and there's no doubt he makes them better. But it's hard to depend on his availability given his injury history.

Also discussed in the new episode: Another potential Hayward trade idea from Forsberg involving the Sacramento Kings. A potential trade scenario with the Warriors involving the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, and Kemba Walker's status to begin the 2020-21 season.

Check out the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast on your favorite podcast app or watch it on YouTube below.

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