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Hayward: No 'ill will' toward Celtics following exit
Gordon Hayward said Tuesday that he's looking forward to his "next chapter" with the Hornets after a departure from Boston that left many surprised.
Gordon Hayward turns page, excited for 'next chapter' with Charlotte Hornets
Gordon Hayward says he feels no "ill-will" toward the Boston Celtics after deciding to opt out of the final year of his deal and agree to a new four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
"Tough decisions were certainly made," Hayward said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. "There's no ill-will on my end from anybody within the Boston organization, the players. I had an unbelievable time in Boston and I think that it's unfortunate what happened, I obviously had a freak injury right when I got there. And there's a lot of things that were kind of out of my control of when I was in Boston. But I had a great time there and still have great relationships with the people there and some of the players there. And my teammates and coaches and my wife and I had built relationships with members of the community that we live in and to this day we talk to them ... there's no ill will on my end and I really loved my time in Boston.
"Certainly couldn't be more excited about where I'm at now. And looking forward to this next chapter."
The 30-year-old spent the past three seasons with the Celtics, but his tenure will be marked by the freak injury suffered in his regular-season debut in 2017. Hayward, who was expected to help lead the Celtics back to the NBA Finals, suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated left ankle. After struggling to find a rhythm throughout the 2018-19 campaign, he started to look like his old self at times last season, averaging 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 52 regular-season games.
He acknowledged that as he worked his way back from a separate ankle injury during the Celtics' postseason run in the bubble in Orlando, Florida, he wasn't thinking about whether his time with Boston was ending.
The quickness of both his Celtics departure, and Hornets arrival, surprised him.
"Honestly, when you're in the bubble, I was focused on the task at hand," Hayward said. "I missed my family, my wife was about to give birth, there was actually a lot of things that were going on -- free agency wasn't even in the back of my mind at all. And then when I get hurt, I'm just trying to get myself better as fast as I can so I can try to come back and see what I can do to try to help us. So certainly wasn't thinking that this could be the last go-around at all. I think just the circumstances of the bubble and just where the NBA's at right now, and where the world's at with COVID, it was unlike any other circumstance."
The decision to agree to terms with the Hornets actually was the second time Hayward has done so in his career. He signed a four-year $63 million offer sheet with the Hornets in the summer of 2014, which was eventually matched by the Utah Jazz. Hayward noted that the belief that Hornets owner Michael Jordan has always had in his game meant a lot to him.
"I never forgot the commitment and the potential I think that Michael and the organization saw in me years ago," Hayward said. "When they gave me an offer sheet and I had signed that to come here back then and then ultimately that got matched. And so for sure that was always one thing that was in the back of my mind."
Hornets president of basketball operations/general manager Mitch Kupchak said that Jordan was "very involved" in the process of landing Hayward, including several phone calls to the former All-Star.
"I think I did a video conference with him on that visit [in 2014] and any time you talk to Michael Jordan, there's a little bit of that star-struck [feeling]," he said. "I remember watching him growing up. I think I asked him back then if Reggie [Miller] fouled him when he pushed off and hit the shot against them [in the 1998 Eastern Conference finals] when Reggie was on the Pacers in the playoffs there.
"[Jordan's] one of the greatest players to ever play if not the greatest to ever play, so I think everyone feels that a little bit. I never forgot that and so this second go-around he actually mentioned it as well when I talked and then when he had texted me a little bit that he's wanted me for years now. I think it was something where the more and conversations that we had, that I had with the coaching staff, with some of the front office guys ... although there were conversations with lots of teams for sign-and-trade opportunities, it was one of those things where my agent was kind of working on those and I kind of just told him let's do this thing in Charlotte, let's get this thing done."
Kupchak said he was surprised that Hayward chose not to exercise his $34.2 million player option with the Celtics, and that the Hornets were in position to land him despite competition from several teams. Kupchak said on the morning of Hayward's decision, he did not "feel great," about the team's chances to actually land Hayward, but he was pleasantly surprised with the result.
"He's a bona fide starter in this league," Kupchak said. "And we're happy to add not only him at a position where we feel there's a great need which is a true wing, but we're also excited to have his leadership and stability in the locker room. Regarding his injury history, everybody knows he had a devastating injury three years ago. He passed our physical with flying colors. Last year it looked like he was rounding back into shape and was on his way to having a typical Gordon Hayward year when he sprained his ankle, which he's 100 percent healed from now ... based on our recent physical and access to medical records and talking to the experts that did the surgery, there's no reason to believe, knock on wood, that he won't be healthy here for the next four years."
When pressed on the idea that the Hornets needed Hayward to be more than just a "starter" after that kind of investment, Kupchak said he believed Hayward could get back to his All-Star form.
"I still think he can make an All-Star team," Kupchak said. "He's 30 years old, and I believe it might not be a fair comparison but I think Jimmy Butler was 31 when Miami brought him on board and I think Jimmy had a pretty good year. I think the best years for an NBA player, when their mind catches up to their body is between the ages of 28 and 32. So I think he still has at least two solid, maybe three really solid years where he can play at a high level. Now, whether he makes the All-Star team or not, I don't know. Do we need him to average 25 or 27 points for this team? No, we do not need that. We need the stability in the locker room. We need what he brings to us at that position. Not only scoring but facilitating an offense. And what does that translate into? I don't know, 17 points, 19 points, 6 rebounds? I don't know. But to add a player like that to this young group we just felt that was the move in the right direction."
Hornets coach James Borrego said he believes Hayward's decision to sign with the team had to do with more than just money.
"This is not something where we threw out a number and raised our hand and he committed to us," Borrego said. "That's not how this thing unfolded. Gordon had to make a decision if this is a place that he believed in, that he wanted to grow with, was this a place he saw himself finishing his career at? This city, this organization. And obviously, he chose us."
Despite skepticism by some around the league regarding the price tag and Hayward's ability to stay healthy and produce at the same high level, Hayward is confident his play will do the talking.
"I still view myself in the prime of my career," Hayward said. "I think that there's a lot of talk -- I'm actually somebody that doesn't look or read at any of the media or anything so I actually haven't really heard any of the criticism. I've always just kind of focused on myself and try to make myself a better player. And certainly the situation that I was in in Boston, we had a lot of great players, and we had a great team and so I was kind of in a different role than I was prior to the injury. And tried to make the most of that and I think statistically my agent [Mark Bartelstein] would tell you that I had a better year efficiency-wise than I did my last year when I was in Utah.
"And so I think I'm still more than capable of being that player and want to be that player. I think I'm just excited for this new opportunity, this new challenge in my career. I still firmly believe that I'm in the prime of my career. I think it's going to be a great challenge. Certainly there's going to be ups and downs as there are no matter where you're at with basketball, but I'm looking forward to being here in Charlotte and being with the new coaching staff and new players and kind of getting it going."
Hayward: No 'ill will' toward Celtics following exit
Gordon Hayward said Tuesday that he's looking forward to his "next chapter" with the Hornets after a departure from Boston that left many surprised.www.espn.com
Gordon Hayward turns page, excited for 'next chapter' with Charlotte Hornets
Gordon Hayward says he feels no "ill-will" toward the Boston Celtics after deciding to opt out of the final year of his deal and agree to a new four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
"Tough decisions were certainly made," Hayward said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. "There's no ill-will on my end from anybody within the Boston organization, the players. I had an unbelievable time in Boston and I think that it's unfortunate what happened, I obviously had a freak injury right when I got there. And there's a lot of things that were kind of out of my control of when I was in Boston. But I had a great time there and still have great relationships with the people there and some of the players there. And my teammates and coaches and my wife and I had built relationships with members of the community that we live in and to this day we talk to them ... there's no ill will on my end and I really loved my time in Boston.
"Certainly couldn't be more excited about where I'm at now. And looking forward to this next chapter."
The 30-year-old spent the past three seasons with the Celtics, but his tenure will be marked by the freak injury suffered in his regular-season debut in 2017. Hayward, who was expected to help lead the Celtics back to the NBA Finals, suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated left ankle. After struggling to find a rhythm throughout the 2018-19 campaign, he started to look like his old self at times last season, averaging 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 52 regular-season games.
He acknowledged that as he worked his way back from a separate ankle injury during the Celtics' postseason run in the bubble in Orlando, Florida, he wasn't thinking about whether his time with Boston was ending.
The quickness of both his Celtics departure, and Hornets arrival, surprised him.
"Honestly, when you're in the bubble, I was focused on the task at hand," Hayward said. "I missed my family, my wife was about to give birth, there was actually a lot of things that were going on -- free agency wasn't even in the back of my mind at all. And then when I get hurt, I'm just trying to get myself better as fast as I can so I can try to come back and see what I can do to try to help us. So certainly wasn't thinking that this could be the last go-around at all. I think just the circumstances of the bubble and just where the NBA's at right now, and where the world's at with COVID, it was unlike any other circumstance."
The decision to agree to terms with the Hornets actually was the second time Hayward has done so in his career. He signed a four-year $63 million offer sheet with the Hornets in the summer of 2014, which was eventually matched by the Utah Jazz. Hayward noted that the belief that Hornets owner Michael Jordan has always had in his game meant a lot to him.
"I never forgot the commitment and the potential I think that Michael and the organization saw in me years ago," Hayward said. "When they gave me an offer sheet and I had signed that to come here back then and then ultimately that got matched. And so for sure that was always one thing that was in the back of my mind."
Hornets president of basketball operations/general manager Mitch Kupchak said that Jordan was "very involved" in the process of landing Hayward, including several phone calls to the former All-Star.
"I think I did a video conference with him on that visit [in 2014] and any time you talk to Michael Jordan, there's a little bit of that star-struck [feeling]," he said. "I remember watching him growing up. I think I asked him back then if Reggie [Miller] fouled him when he pushed off and hit the shot against them [in the 1998 Eastern Conference finals] when Reggie was on the Pacers in the playoffs there.
"[Jordan's] one of the greatest players to ever play if not the greatest to ever play, so I think everyone feels that a little bit. I never forgot that and so this second go-around he actually mentioned it as well when I talked and then when he had texted me a little bit that he's wanted me for years now. I think it was something where the more and conversations that we had, that I had with the coaching staff, with some of the front office guys ... although there were conversations with lots of teams for sign-and-trade opportunities, it was one of those things where my agent was kind of working on those and I kind of just told him let's do this thing in Charlotte, let's get this thing done."
Kupchak said he was surprised that Hayward chose not to exercise his $34.2 million player option with the Celtics, and that the Hornets were in position to land him despite competition from several teams. Kupchak said on the morning of Hayward's decision, he did not "feel great," about the team's chances to actually land Hayward, but he was pleasantly surprised with the result.
"He's a bona fide starter in this league," Kupchak said. "And we're happy to add not only him at a position where we feel there's a great need which is a true wing, but we're also excited to have his leadership and stability in the locker room. Regarding his injury history, everybody knows he had a devastating injury three years ago. He passed our physical with flying colors. Last year it looked like he was rounding back into shape and was on his way to having a typical Gordon Hayward year when he sprained his ankle, which he's 100 percent healed from now ... based on our recent physical and access to medical records and talking to the experts that did the surgery, there's no reason to believe, knock on wood, that he won't be healthy here for the next four years."
When pressed on the idea that the Hornets needed Hayward to be more than just a "starter" after that kind of investment, Kupchak said he believed Hayward could get back to his All-Star form.
"I still think he can make an All-Star team," Kupchak said. "He's 30 years old, and I believe it might not be a fair comparison but I think Jimmy Butler was 31 when Miami brought him on board and I think Jimmy had a pretty good year. I think the best years for an NBA player, when their mind catches up to their body is between the ages of 28 and 32. So I think he still has at least two solid, maybe three really solid years where he can play at a high level. Now, whether he makes the All-Star team or not, I don't know. Do we need him to average 25 or 27 points for this team? No, we do not need that. We need the stability in the locker room. We need what he brings to us at that position. Not only scoring but facilitating an offense. And what does that translate into? I don't know, 17 points, 19 points, 6 rebounds? I don't know. But to add a player like that to this young group we just felt that was the move in the right direction."
Hornets coach James Borrego said he believes Hayward's decision to sign with the team had to do with more than just money.
"This is not something where we threw out a number and raised our hand and he committed to us," Borrego said. "That's not how this thing unfolded. Gordon had to make a decision if this is a place that he believed in, that he wanted to grow with, was this a place he saw himself finishing his career at? This city, this organization. And obviously, he chose us."
Despite skepticism by some around the league regarding the price tag and Hayward's ability to stay healthy and produce at the same high level, Hayward is confident his play will do the talking.
"I still view myself in the prime of my career," Hayward said. "I think that there's a lot of talk -- I'm actually somebody that doesn't look or read at any of the media or anything so I actually haven't really heard any of the criticism. I've always just kind of focused on myself and try to make myself a better player. And certainly the situation that I was in in Boston, we had a lot of great players, and we had a great team and so I was kind of in a different role than I was prior to the injury. And tried to make the most of that and I think statistically my agent [Mark Bartelstein] would tell you that I had a better year efficiency-wise than I did my last year when I was in Utah.
"And so I think I'm still more than capable of being that player and want to be that player. I think I'm just excited for this new opportunity, this new challenge in my career. I still firmly believe that I'm in the prime of my career. I think it's going to be a great challenge. Certainly there's going to be ups and downs as there are no matter where you're at with basketball, but I'm looking forward to being here in Charlotte and being with the new coaching staff and new players and kind of getting it going."
well how BIG of you Gordon....
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@playahaitian
I told you Leon Rose and this Kentucky affiliation had some steam.
https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/tom-thibodeau-caa-kentucky-1.50079660
Tom Thibodeau says CAA, Kentucky representation on Knicks a coincidence
While it can be debated whether the Knicks should have gone after some of the high-priced stars on the free agent and trade market or held tight to their cap flexibility, it’s not debatable that the roster construction took on a distinctively familiar look for team president Leon Rose and his staff with Creative Artists Agency clients and University of Kentucky products dominating the franchise.
But Tom Thibodeau, a CAA client himself, pushed aside that criticism.
"I think more coincidental," Thibodeau said. "I think obviously the Kentucky piece, they have one of the best programs in the country . . . CAA is one of the biggest agencies out there, and there's a lot of arms to CAA. There's a number of agents who work for the agency and so it just so happened that quite a few of the guys are represented by CAA, but I think that probably holds true for most teams. But we thought they fit us the best and we had the opportunity to get those players and we did. But there wasn't anything said like, ‘Well, we got to have Kentucky players’ or 'We have to have CAA players.’"
Nerlens Noel, one of five Kentucky players on the current roster, added, "It’s a coincidence maybe, but it gets to a point where (Kentucky coach John Calipari) has done his job with us as young guys. He’s kind of filled up the NBA. It won’t be the last time for an NBA organization."
Chip on his shoulder
RJ Barrett was left off of both first and second All-rookie teams last season and he said it stuck with him.
"It bothered me a lot," he said. "Not going to lie. It bothered me a lot. I really don’t understand why I wasn’t on it. But it was motivation, motivation for next season. It was good to have an extra chip on my shoulder and just prove myself even more."
Mentor program
Noel said that while he will compete for the starting position at center, he hopes that the lesson he has learned in his career can be a benefit for Mitchell Robinson.
"I know my attributes and what I bring to the table," Noel said. "It’s a young team. I want to give everything I can. Mitchell is a young player I’ve been watching the last couple of years. His development kind of resembles mine - his playing style above the rim, blocking shots. I just want to mentor him any way possible. Whatever position we play throughout the season will play itself out. I want to be a big brother to him and give him a lot of advice throughout the season. We’re both competitors. At the end of the day we’re on the same team and it will be a great brotherhood."
I told you Leon Rose and this Kentucky affiliation had some steam.
https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/tom-thibodeau-caa-kentucky-1.50079660
Tom Thibodeau says CAA, Kentucky representation on Knicks a coincidence
While it can be debated whether the Knicks should have gone after some of the high-priced stars on the free agent and trade market or held tight to their cap flexibility, it’s not debatable that the roster construction took on a distinctively familiar look for team president Leon Rose and his staff with Creative Artists Agency clients and University of Kentucky products dominating the franchise.
But Tom Thibodeau, a CAA client himself, pushed aside that criticism.
"I think more coincidental," Thibodeau said. "I think obviously the Kentucky piece, they have one of the best programs in the country . . . CAA is one of the biggest agencies out there, and there's a lot of arms to CAA. There's a number of agents who work for the agency and so it just so happened that quite a few of the guys are represented by CAA, but I think that probably holds true for most teams. But we thought they fit us the best and we had the opportunity to get those players and we did. But there wasn't anything said like, ‘Well, we got to have Kentucky players’ or 'We have to have CAA players.’"
Nerlens Noel, one of five Kentucky players on the current roster, added, "It’s a coincidence maybe, but it gets to a point where (Kentucky coach John Calipari) has done his job with us as young guys. He’s kind of filled up the NBA. It won’t be the last time for an NBA organization."
Chip on his shoulder
RJ Barrett was left off of both first and second All-rookie teams last season and he said it stuck with him.
"It bothered me a lot," he said. "Not going to lie. It bothered me a lot. I really don’t understand why I wasn’t on it. But it was motivation, motivation for next season. It was good to have an extra chip on my shoulder and just prove myself even more."
Mentor program
Noel said that while he will compete for the starting position at center, he hopes that the lesson he has learned in his career can be a benefit for Mitchell Robinson.
"I know my attributes and what I bring to the table," Noel said. "It’s a young team. I want to give everything I can. Mitchell is a young player I’ve been watching the last couple of years. His development kind of resembles mine - his playing style above the rim, blocking shots. I just want to mentor him any way possible. Whatever position we play throughout the season will play itself out. I want to be a big brother to him and give him a lot of advice throughout the season. We’re both competitors. At the end of the day we’re on the same team and it will be a great brotherhood."
you called this DAY ONE bro....
why they even deny it though?
It aint against any rule?
JUST OWN THAT SH*T.
and its not like Kentucky players all suck.
the Knicks just look for sh*t to complicate
Just f*cking win,
But it also makes sense now why Leon hired Thibs in the first place. He’s a caa client
EXACTLY
We all done peeped game
Question is now does all this intermingling actually HELP construct a winning product upstairs and on the floor
Center Joakim Noah to be waived by LA Clippers, likely ending his career, agent says
The LA Clippers are waiving two-time All-Star center Joakim Noah, signaling a likely end to his 13-year NBA career, his agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.
In his prime with the Chicago Bulls, Noah built a reputation as one of the league's best defenders and most ferocious competitors.
"What an illustrious career for Joakim, starting with two national titles at the University of Florida, to becoming an NBA Defensive Player of the Year and ultimately evolving into one of the most passionate, spirited players to ever come through our sport," Duffy told ESPN on Tuesday night. "It's been my honor to represent Joakim through his journey."
Noah, the son of former French Open tennis champ Yannick Noah, helped lead the Florida Gators to consecutive national championships before he was selected ninth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2007.
Noah's finest years were with the Bulls as one of the league's best and most versatile defenders. A two-time All-Star (2013 and 2014), Noah became a three-time All-Defensive performer and the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013-14. In earning All-NBA first-team honors that season, Noah averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.
Noah -- who averaged 8.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over his career -- had stops with the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Clippers through his 13 seasons. Injuries cost him a multitude of games on the back end of his career, limiting him to only 129 games since the 2015-16 season. After signing a four-year, $72 million free-agent deal with the Knicks in 2016, Noah played a total of 53 games over two seasons.
Noah, 35, suffered a freak injury in September of 2019 when he dropped a steel ice tub and cut his Achilles tendon. He signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers prior to the pandemic shutdown and played five games during the rest of the season.
The LA Clippers are waiving two-time All-Star center Joakim Noah, signaling a likely end to his 13-year NBA career, his agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.
In his prime with the Chicago Bulls, Noah built a reputation as one of the league's best defenders and most ferocious competitors.
"What an illustrious career for Joakim, starting with two national titles at the University of Florida, to becoming an NBA Defensive Player of the Year and ultimately evolving into one of the most passionate, spirited players to ever come through our sport," Duffy told ESPN on Tuesday night. "It's been my honor to represent Joakim through his journey."
Noah, the son of former French Open tennis champ Yannick Noah, helped lead the Florida Gators to consecutive national championships before he was selected ninth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2007.
Noah's finest years were with the Bulls as one of the league's best and most versatile defenders. A two-time All-Star (2013 and 2014), Noah became a three-time All-Defensive performer and the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013-14. In earning All-NBA first-team honors that season, Noah averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.
Noah -- who averaged 8.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over his career -- had stops with the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Clippers through his 13 seasons. Injuries cost him a multitude of games on the back end of his career, limiting him to only 129 games since the 2015-16 season. After signing a four-year, $72 million free-agent deal with the Knicks in 2016, Noah played a total of 53 games over two seasons.
Noah, 35, suffered a freak injury in September of 2019 when he dropped a steel ice tub and cut his Achilles tendon. He signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers prior to the pandemic shutdown and played five games during the rest of the season.
My team can never get the city edition jerseys right...
They look like someone mailed a ransom letter to them....
You said they were gonna be trash too.
Congrats MJ.
Now you see why that Rican coon @tallblacknyc went so hard for him all these years. He knows MJ loves white boys as much as him. He wanted to MJ and the Hornets to sign his cousin JJ Barea.
I don't want to trade the team away for him though
Some time teams be doing to much...
The Heat was injuries away from game 7 in the finals. Bam hurt, Dragic hurt, buckets was hurt also. Even tho it may not looked like it
I understand, Kawhi but Wayoff P getting security detail....wtf...lol
It was guys like Rodman and Pippen who could affect and greatly impact a game without having to score points. Rodman would own the glass and defend whomever from PG to C. Dennis is a top 5 all-time pure athlete in the history of the NBA. Pippen could have a sucky scoring night but will have 11 rebounds, 9 assists 2 steals, and 2 blocks with just 13 points or less all while guarding the opposing teams's best perimeter player.