Report: The Indiana Pacers Are Interested In Trading For Gordon Hayward. What Should Indiana Offer?

Before suffering one of the most devastating injuries in NBA history, Gordon Hayward was an All-Star calibre player while being discussed as a top-five small forward in the NBA. His tenure with the Utah Jazz was exceptional as he was the franchise player and the “future” of Utah. However, Hayward would join the Boston Celtics alongside Kyrie Irving in hopes of competing for an NBA championship. Unfortunately, the Celtics aspiration of winning a title with Irving and Hayward was shortly ended as the Boston Celtics are currently a completely different team with significant differences from when Hayward first joined. Instead of being the second option behind Kyrie Irving, Hayward is now a role player that is the fourth or fifth option on a very top-heavy team. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are Boston’s future that has managed to make the NBA Conference Finals twice without Hayward. With Hayward becoming an unrestricted free agent next off-season, the Celtics are projected to eventually trade the former All-Star in hopes of claiming a starting calibre center. While Andre Drummond has been rumoured to be the number one target for the Boston Celtics to trade for, the Indiana Pacers have surfaced as an organization interested in trading for Gordan Hayward. 

Even though most of this is pure speculation, the idea of Indiana being interested in Hayward is almost like a fairytale considering the history between them. While Hayward does enjoy living and playing for Boston, Indiana holds a special place in his heart, considering that he was born there while also leading the Butler Bulldogs to the NCAA championship game in 2010. The idea of Hayward playing for his hometown sparks interest in both the city and for himself. The marketing and promotion would be ideal, but Hayward’s fit in Indiana is a bit questionable. With the Pacers already well equipped with a top-ten small forward in TJ Warren, Indiana would have to place either Hayward or Warren off the bench or the power forward position. Even though Hayward does have some power forward experience with the Boston Celtics, TJ Warren would most likely be placed at the four spot due to him being slightly taller and a better defender. However, if this trade were to happen, the first priority would be Gordan Hayward expecting his player exception followed by an immediate exchange. 

The Boston Celtics, in an odd way, had accomplished a lot more without Hayward compared to when he was healthy. This does not mean that Hayward is a bad player or an unappreciated player; instead, it merely implies that Boston does not need Hayward anymore, especially when factoring in his absurd contract. For the most part, the Celtics have a future foundation built around the big three of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker. While this team has been successful, signing or trading for a starting center is a mandatory expectation for the Celtics this off-season. With the Pacers expressing interest in attaining Hayward, the Boston Celtics would have no choice but to target Myles Turner, which has been rumoured to be a part of the Celtics for many years. The idea of Turner in Boston is a perfect match for the way Brad Stevens incorporates the center position in his offensive schemes. Three-point shooting and rebounding are the two main skill sets that a center needs in a Brad Stevens system making Myles Turner the most feasible option. He may not be the best option in the market, but he is definitely the most valued and affordable option at the center position spot. To successfully attain Myles Turner, Boston would need to trade Gordan Hayward and a future first-round pick to entice the Pacers as Turner is still a young prospect with potential. Even though the Turner project failed in Indiana, his potential was never shown with the Pacers. If Myles Turner can have an opportunity to play in a new system and organization, his morale would be boosted, especially when he would be the primary center for the Boston Celtics. 

Myles Turner, as a member of the Boston Celtics, has been a long-awaited rumour that needs to happen. Both Gordon Hayward and Myles Turner are being wasted on their teams as there is no room for them to blossom into their true selves. Hayward signed in Boston with the assumption of being the second-option behind Kyrie Irving, and that would have still happened if he never suffered that horrific injury. While his All-Star status in the NBA has been promptly removed, Hayward has the potential to return to that status if given the right opportunity. However, if this trade does become true, the Pacers would have a deep rotation with a starting five of Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, Gordon Hayward, TJ Warren, and Domantas Sabonis! Although there is no star player on this team, both Oladipo and Hayward were former All-Stars. If they can get back to that status, then Indiana Pacers could become one of the best organizations in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. Overall, this trade benefits both teams as the Celtics would finally acquire a starting center that fits the timeline while Indiana would attain a former All-Star. Indiana further benefits as they would have plenty of cap room in the 2020-21 NBA off-season with Hayward and Oladipo becoming free-agents.