Gordon Hayward eliminated Miami Heat, will decide between Celtics and Jazz
By Wes Goldberg
It was reported that Gordon Hayward would sign with the Boston Celtics, but a decision has yet to be made.
Update: Gordon Hayward will not sign with the Miami Heat, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
We reported pessimism on Hayward/Heat front this AM, and ESPN's Woj reports Heat was eliminated from consideration last night....
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 4, 2017
However, the Heat have not been notified of Hayward’s decision.
Until then, it’s unlikely that they move on until Hayward’s decision is final. That means not making moves to re-sign James Johnson or Dion Waiters. Waiters plans to meet with the Knicks and Lakers, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
From the dominoes waiting to fall department: Knicks continue to speak with Dion Waiters. Lakers meeting tomorrow on Waiters/Rondo etc
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 4, 2017
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Original story: Isn’t the NBA offseason great? And by great, I mean ARGHHHHHHH.
After ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported that Gordon Hayward would sign with the Boston Celtics, David Aldridge and Adrian Wojnarowski are reporting that no decision has been made.
Okay. Strap in. Told by a source w/knowledge of the process that Gordon Hayward has NOT made a decision yet & is still in the process. FWIW.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 4, 2017
Gordon Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, tells ESPN: "Gordon hasn't made a decision yet. We are still working through it."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017
Hayward was hoping to announce his decision to sign with either the Celtics, Utah Jazz or Miami Heat today, but now that decision seems to be postponed even more.
Hayward's agent Mark Bartelstein on whether final word is coming today: "That was the goal, but now we've got to kind of regroup here a bit"
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 4, 2017
Heat, Jazz and Celtics fans–heck, all NBA fans with a pulse and a Twitter account–anxiously spent their 4th of July waiting on Hayward’s decision. This has been a wild ride.
The Heat had a meeting with Hayward on Saturday that, according to reports, lasted four hours and went well. Hayward was especially impressed by Erik Spoesltra, as Amin Elhassan said on ESPN over the weekend. It didn’t go well enough, though. Hayward met with the Celtics on Sunday and the Jazz on Monday.
Much of what else happens in free agency hinges on Hayward’s decision. Especially for the Heat, who hope to move on to re-signing James Johnson and Dion Waiters if Hayward does not commit to them. In the meantime, most the NBA waits.
What a freaking league. Happy Fourth.