BGleas

On Danny's success, I don't think that's really fair. Of course getting to the Finals and winning titles is the ultimate goal, but he retooled an aging Big 3 team and had the Celtics back in the ECF in 4 years and has since been to 3 of the last 4 conference Finals, including taking LeBron's Cavs 7 games in the ECF with a team missing both Kyrie and Hayward. Since the Big 3 and Doc Rivers left, he's turned that into luring Brad Stevens from Butler and drafting, trading for or signing Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Kyrie (which eventually turned into Kemba). Most teams in the NBA would kill to have been in 3 of the last 4 ECF's, while having pulled off a masterful rebuild in short order. Do they need to get over the hump? Absolutely, and that's partly why Ainge doesn't want to settle for Doug McDermott, his job is to get this team to the Finals and win a title so he's pushing hard. That's his job. As far as remaining free agency, the Celtics need to either trade Hayward or re-sign him to a big money, short deal. Then if they re-sign him, Aaron Baynes has interest in returning and then finally re-sign Tatum to a max deal. I'd love to see Boston and Indiana work something out, but I'd be just as fine with re-signing Hayward and bringing Baynes back. To be honest, I like Hayward so I would almost prefer that.

Ainge's nickname is literally "Trader Danny" because he makes so many trades. He just yesterday completed a complicated 3-team trade with the Grizzlies and Blazers. He's done deals in the past for Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, Kyrie Irving, Isiah Thomas, Kemba Walker, etc., etc. He's made trades with nearly every team in the NBA, even blockbuster deals with teams in his own division. I also think its a misconception that somehow Turner and McDermott is the "fair" deal and Boston should just take it when they're clearly dealing the best player. Ainge's track record is much more accomplished than Pritchard's.

Nobody is being a problem. Danny Ainge is doing his job, which is to get the Celtics the best deal he can. Sorry is Ainge isn't just doing what the Pacers want. The Celtics have paid Gordon Hayward a ton of money, and while not Hayward's fault, haven't really gotten the return on that investment, so now that he's healthy they want to maximize it. Maybe the Pacers should act like that more often and they wouldn't be stuck in mediocrity all the time.

We basically never get the full story. At some point it was brought up that Hayward could sign a shorter, smaller deal to make it work with a team. It might be somewhat unlikely, but if the Celtics and Pacers can't work it out and other suitors dry up, I could see Hayward going back to Boston on one of those near max two-year deals where he has a player option for next season to opt out and test it again. He's a pro and would suck it up and play his best for the Celtics and Boston would definitely take having him. It would get him his desired annual number while letting him out after one season. That's the one option where I could see him doing a short deal.

Depends on how badly the Pacers want Hayward, and we don't know the answer to that. I would think right now it's bad enough to be at least engaging with the Celtics. As I've said numerous times, all three parties have some leverage and three have some weakness. The Celtics leverage lies in the fact that Indiana wants Hayward, Hayward wants Indiana and its very clean for the Pacers in terms of the fit with moving Turner as well. The Pacers leverage lies in the fact that even if they want Hayward badly, they can still always walk away. Again, I'm sure they'll get this done. It's all part of the negotiating.

Yes and no. Depends how bad Hayward wants Indy and Indy wants Hayward. The suitors for Hayward to leave at the money he wants without a sign and trade are drying up. That gives Boston some leverage, but it also gives Indiana leverage because the sign and trade partners will be drying up as well. For Indy you can hold out and let the market dry so Boston has to get this done, but thay could also sour Hayward's feelings toward Indiana if they make him wait. Like I've said all along, all three parties have some leverage and some weakness here. I'm sure they'll meet in the middle and this thing will get done somehow.

Fun discussion all! At the end of the day, as I've said, I think this thing gets done. The Celtics aren't getting Oladipo or Warren. Ainge may get Indiana to sweeten the pot a bit, but I'd also agree that chance lessens the longer this goes on and other suitors for Hayward fill their rosters. We'll see.

I mean, he's obviously not an elite, elite guy, but again he averaged 17, 7 and 4 as the 4th option on his team while shooting 55% from 2-point range and 54% from 2-pt range, and he's a plus defender. He's pretty damn good.

True, teams can maneuver to get cap space, but this isn't a typically off season, that will be a little more difficult this go around. Training camp starts soon. I've said all along the Celtics and Pacers will figure this out, but with that said Ainge isn't just going to give Hayward up without at least trying to get as much as he can. That's how these things work. Also, sometimes its not even Ainge. Ainge gets all the credit for that Brooklyn deal, but Ainge had just about agreed to a lesser deal and the Celtics owner made him call Brooklyn back and demand that 3rd first round pick.

Other teams have space, but not for what Hayward seems to have been indicated he'll get. We'll see, these things can change fast.

So basically the Knicks.

He missed his flight to Boston after getting drafted and then also was late or something to his first practice. He's been good on that front ever since. C's fans love him.

The Pacers would have to take back close to matching salaries in any Turner trade, unless they can find a team with a big trade exception thats also in the market for Turner. It would be very, very for tricky for the Pacers are making the moves to get under the cap in order to sign Hayward outright.

Robert Williams would be an interesting piece for Boston to throw in. Celtics fans lover him. He's a young guy with tons of potentiall, though can be a little spacey.

Looks like Galinari is going to Atlanta, essentially taking the Hawks out of the Hayward sweepstakes. Sounds like Charlotte is potentially in play though. Like I've said, the Celtics, Pacers and Hayward all have some leverage here and also lack some leverage here. End of the day, I bet they get something done that meets in the middle.

Hayward is probably 2nd on that list after Ingram, especially in today's NBA. but again most of those guys aren't actually available and the ones could be available would also be sign and trade so you're going to give pieces there too.

Ainge isn't fleecing anybody. He's negotiating. We all know the Pacers aren't trading Turner and Oladipo for Hayward. Heck, we don't even know if that request is even accurate. The Pacers might be giving the Celtics what they need, but the Celtics would be giving the Pacers and Hayward what they want and the best player in the deal.

They can lose him for nothing but its in everyone's interest to work it out. I doubt the Knicks are signing him and I doubt he'd want to go there. The Hawks are the only other team that can sign him without giving anything up. If fans of other teams hate Danny so much, it tells me as a Celtics fan that he's doing a pretty great job. He makes tons of trades, so doesn't seem like other teams/GM's mind dealing with him. His job is to get the best possible outcome for his team.

Who's better than Hayward? It seems to me most non-Celtics watchers view Hayward as the guy with the broken ankle that struggled two seasons ago. He averaged 19ppg last year shooting 38% from 3 as the 4th option on his team. He was basically back to the guy that Miami, Boston and Utah were fighting over in free agency 4 years ago.

I agree Oladipo doesn't fit. Hayward opted out to sign one last huge deal. With his ankle injury a couple years ago I'd be surprised to see sign a 1-year deal to gamble next year as a free agent again. Next years free agent class is massive and this year he's the best player, so can demand more. The Knicks and Hawks are the only teams with the room to sign him outright. I think this deal gets done. The Pacers will throw in more than Turner/McDermott, but it also won't be Warren or VO. My guess is a first round pick highly protected or Holiday.

In a typical season I believe something like December 15th is the first time a team can trade a player they signed in the previous off-season. Obviously that timeline is different this year. But, there's no chance the Knicks would sign him just to flip him later, they're preserving cap space. On the 3-team deal thing, that would rely on Hayward wanting to go to Atlanta. He's made it pretty clear he wants to go to Indiana, and the Pacers seem to really want him. Its a weird situation, all three parties have some leverage. The Pacers could also walk away, they don't have to do this, though they'd then be stuck trying to find another team that really want Turner and they'd be losing a chance at an all-star caliber player.

Only the Celtics can sign and trade him.

Agree on the Holiday part, I think that's who Ainge wants. Disagree on the Celtics losing Hayward for nothing, since there are only two teams that can sign Hayward outright. I'd be stunned if he went to the Knicks, so then that only leaves the Hawks. I guess its possible Hayward signs with the Hawks outright, but that would surprise me as well.

Its a possibility, but not a great one. The only two teams with cap space are the Knicks and the Hawks. He's not going to the Knicks. Apparently the Hawks had some interest, but I think they've moved on. Apparently Charlotte is interested but that would be a sign and trade too, and Hayward has made it clear he wants Indiana. The Celtics have used most of the picks, but Ainge is always moving things for future picks. They still have a few.

Definitely a possibility, though those deals always get tricky. They could also meet in the middle. Heck, Ainge could be pushing for Warren/Oladipo simply to squeeze a pick out of the Pacers or something in exchange for relenting.