Report: Gordon Hayward Opting Out Of Contract With Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- Gordon Hayward has made his decision. The forward is opting out of his contract with the Boston Celtics, foregoing the final year of his contract in Boston.
Hayward declined his $34.1 million player option for the 2020-21 season, making him an unrestricted free agent when free agency opens on Friday. The news was first reported by Shams Charania.
What that means, however, is not yet clear. While the indication of the opt-would seemingly signify that Hayward is aware of a robust free-agent market, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald suggested that all options for Hayward remain on the table.
The 30-year-old Hayward is coming off his best season in Boston, averaging 17.5 points off 50 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent from three-point range to go with 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 52 games. But injuries were once again an issue, as Hayward did miss time during the regular season after suffering a broken wrist and missed most of Boston's playoff run after suffering an ankle injury at the end of their first game of the first round.
But the Celtics are now one step closer to potentially losing Hayward without getting anything in return, subtracting a talented playmaker out of Brad Stevens' rotation.
