The Miami Heat went into free agency with a clear plan to improve their roster by signing Gordon Hayward away from the Utah Jazz.
Apparently, Pat Riley and company need to move on to their backup plans as Hayward has decided to sign with the Boston Celtics.
Hayward finished up his free agent meetings on Monday by talking with the Utah Jazz, where he's spent all seven of his years as a pro after being drafted by the Jazz with the ninth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He averaged 21.9 points with 5.4 rebounds per game last season, both career highs. The small forward also shot just under 40% from three-point range and was named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time.
When free agency opened on Saturday, Hayward's first visit was to Miami where the Heat's front office brought in several players, including Hassan Whiteside, to help recruit Hayward. The team also hung banners with a Miami jersey superimposed onto an image of the 6'8" Indiana native.
By Saturday night, Hayward had traveled up to Massachusetts where he spent more than 24 hours in the city that is home to the team that finished atop the Eastern Conference standings last year. Boston also got creative with their pitch to Hayward the following day, including a welcome message sprayed across the jumbotron of Fenway Park and using star guard Isaiah Thomas as part of their group to lure Hayward to Beantown.
"My meetings with all three teams during this process — Miami, Boston and Utah — were just unbelievable," Hayward wrote in a piece for The Players' Tribune announcing his move. "And now I’ve decided to sign with the Boston Celtics."
Even though the Jazz could offer Hayward millions more than either the Heat or Celtics, the transition to the Eastern Conference was appealing as many big names join forces in the West. In the end, Hayward cited his relationship with coach Brad Stevens as a major influence in his choice. Stevens led Hayward and the Butler Bulldogs to the 2010 NCAA Championship Game before the then-sophomore turned pro.
"There was one person who I knew I could talk to about it from every angle, who I knew would give me the smartest and most honest perspective available: Coach Stevens," Hayward wrote about his former-and future-coach's aid when deciding whether or not the enter the draft. "That unfinished business we had together, back in 2010, when I left Butler for the NBA … as far as I’m concerned, all of these years later, we still have it."
Hayward admitted to being very conflicted about the decision and considered many factors in his choice, not only about his own future, but the situations and potential plans of the respective teams he may sign with. Boston has several of their key contributors under contract beyond next year, plus the Celtics have stockpiled future first round picks from previous trades.
The Heat previously traded away both its 2018 draft picks and Miami is also missing a first round selection in 2021 but the front office tried to showcase the team's recent success with the Big Three and the ability to win following the departures of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh as well as the aggressive nature of Pat Riley compared to the Boston brass, led by Danny Ainge.
Now, the Heat will turn to other options, including the possibility of resigning Dion Waiters to a new contract, although it will likely need to be at a significant raise over his salary from last year.
(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw)