I don't think it would have mattered. A team trading for a rental that will be a FA at the year's end isn't going to give up much.
Plus, the Celtics have to shed salary to make the deal work. So they'll start trading away pieces, maybe some in a sign-and-trade for Hayward.
And if Boston doesn't, then Dennis Lindsey can still make some good moves for good contracts, and see what Hood can do in a larger role.
Losing Hayward will hurt some, but it's not as bad as losing a true superstar.
I also think often, when teams are forced to do a sign-and-trade for a departing FA, then they rarely get anything good back anyways, and often it's bad or long contracts. There's not much that can be gained from a departing FA.
The L.A. Lakers traded Shaq for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant. Brian Grant was waived before the season started, and Butler was traded to Washington within a year.
Not even a MVP player in Shaq could get more than essentially an inconsistent sub-All Star player in Shaq.
If someone leaves, then Lindsey will have to make moves to get the talent level back. Hopefully it doesn't take him too long. Getting someone back immediately who may be on a bad contract isn't as much of a concern, as how to get the team moving forward 1-2 years from now.
What's the difference between the Salt Lake Tribune, and the Players' Tribune?
Why are both named "Tribune"
There are players that the Jazz could recruited stronger if they knew Hayward was not coming back. We couldn't get those players to wait and they couldn't get those players and still sign Hayward. They got Rubio, reportedly, because Hayward wanted him. But would they have re-signed Hill instead? (I would rather have Rubio to be honest.) then, when the word was leaked that he chose Boston, instead of confirming, his agent said he hadn't made up his mind yet. Teams that weren't going to get Hayward anyway went after the players the Jazz were interested in but we're waiting for Hayward's decision.
Don't give me wrong, they just did their homework and had back up plans, but it was strung out with no communication and conflicting reports that the players who needed to sign just did. We didn't have the flexibility to just sign them and wait. Or to tell them to wait.
Hayward "didn't have time" to call the Jazz but he had time to get a fancy haircut and to tour Boston (obviously after that decision). I seriously can't except people saying that agents do the calling, but saying he didn't have time? It's a freaking phone call. He's not a businessman, doctor, or a busy lawyer. He had his workouts, but he wasn't doing that.
What's the difference between the University Utah and University of Texas? They both have the word "University" in it. Just kidding. Tribune is general. Salt Lake Tribune is done by Salt Lake writers and the Players' Tribune is produced by the NBA union. Different entities.
Or were you joking and I just couldn't tell?
I didn't know the Players' Tribune was done by the NBA union.
Thanks.
Before I clicked on your link, I was wondering who the "new" star was. I shouted at the article, "Gobert isn't new!".
Then when I clicked on the link, I realized it was about Mitchell.
After his rookie campaign last year, it's hard to call him new too.