Doubt crept up on Celtics Nation in June. It was a nagging worry that the good times from last season, the joy of contending now and building for the future, were slipping away.
Could it really be considered “contending” after getting pummeled in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Cavaliers, who in turn were pummeled in the Finals by the Warriors? And how bright was the future if Danny Ainge couldn’t turn his horde of assets into superstars, or even All-Stars? And on top of that fearful mess the hip injury that kept Isaiah Thomas out of most of the Conference Finals added another level of concern.
Then, on the Fourth of July, the fireworks Boston had been looking for exploded with the arrival of free agent Gordon Hayward. Signing the 6-foot-8 swingman from Utah by way of Indiana doesn’t put the Celtics ahead of Golden State or Cleveland, but it cements Boston’s place as one of the NBA’s elite now and for the next few years. It chases the doubt and keeps the good times rolling.
This is the second straight summer that a big-time free agent has picked the Celtics with Hayward following in the footsteps of Al Horford. The thought of NBA free agent stars choosing Boston used to be laughable. But the city has become synonymous with championships, Ainge and Brad Stevens have created a winning culture and the Celtics are now a legitimate landing spot for high-end talent.
Plus, Ainge managed the roster and salary cap so well that he didn’t even have to dip into his treasure chest of assets to land Hayward. Which means he still has the means of trading for more high-end talent to push the Celtics even closer to Cleveland…and eventually Golden State.
But because the 27-year-old Hayward is just entering his prime – he averaged career highs in points (21.9), rebounds (5.4) and shooting percentage (47.1) last year – and the 28-year-old Thomas is also just now coming into his own (as long as that hip allows it), Boston may not need to trade away picks and players in hopes of finding that other star to vault them into true contention. Maybe Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum can develop into that over the next few years, or maybe it will be the 2018 Brooklyn pick or the one of the other first rounders Boston owns.
Make no mistake, Ainge still has some moves to make. Salary cap restrictions and playing time considerations demand it. If Jae Crowder was angry after Boston fans cheered for Hayward when he played at TD Garden last season, how is Crowder going to feel when Hayward takes his starting spot? And decisions will need to be made about the offensively-challenged group of defensive-minded guards – Avery Bradley (a free agent next summer), Marcus Smart (restricted free agent next summer) and Terry Rozier – who may also lose some playing time to Hayward.
But even if the Celtics do nothing else this offseason other than clean up their books and roster, adding Hayward makes the summer a win. Not only was he the best free agent available, he’s a great fit for the Celtics.
Hayward’s connection to Stevens from their days at Butler may have been the deciding factor in Hayward’s decision to pick Boston, and it also means Stevens has an intimate knowledge of how best to use Hayward, not to mention how to communicate with him. Hayward’s NBA experience should also help with his transition – the motion offense used by Utah and the one used in Boston are similar.
Defensively, Stevens wants versatile defenders, and the athletic Hayward checks that box, too. While Hayward is a good rebounder, he doesn’t answer all of the Celtics rebounding concerns. But maybe that’s where Ante Zizic comes in, the 7-foot, 20-year-old 2016 first-round pick with a mean streak who spent last year crashing the glass in Europe.
Even if Hayward doesn’t solve all the Celtics’ problems or put them in Golden State’s league, he is the right fit on the court, just like he’s the right fit off the court.
Hayward announced his decision to sign with Boston in a piece on theplayerstribune.com titled, “Thank You, Utah.” Hayward wrote, “I was literally the last Jazz player left who played under Coach (Jerry) Sloan – and I always took that as a lot more than just some piece of trivia. That was something that truly made me feel like a part of the fabric of this franchise. And that fabric is something that has meant a lot to me, ever since.”
Sloan is a great coach, the Utah fans have a reputation for being supportive and the fabric of that franchise is probably like a nice, cozy shawl worn by your great aunt. But the fabric of the Celtics franchise is an over-sized quilt made from some of the greatest moments in league history. And Hayward gets it.
“There were so many great things pulling me in that direction,” Hayward wrote. “There was the winning culture of Boston, as a city – from the Sox, to the Pats, to the Bruins. There was the special history of the Celtics, as a franchise – from Russell, to Bird, to Pierce, and it goes on.”
Just like the good times of contending now and building for the future goes on for the Celtics after their Fourth of July fireworks.
(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or tosullivan@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @timosullivan20.)