Celtics bench Brady

Pitch to Hayward low key, basketball focused

ORLANDO — The Boston Celtics again moved out of their league in a recruiting battle with the MiamiHeat, this time entertaining Utah Jazz free-agent forward GordonHayward on Sunday at Fenway Park.

A year after New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was part of the Celtics’ free-agency presentation to Kevin Durant thatwas followed by theHeat’s own failed effort for Durant, the Celtics hosted Hayward at the home of the Red Sox, with a video presentation that includedDavid Ortiz.

Following a Saturday meeting with the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena, Hayward moved onto Boston for his Sunday session, before he wraps up his free-agency triple play with a session today with the Jazz.

Hayward’s meeting with the Jazz, however, will not be in Salt Lake City, but rather in San Diego, where he has a home. Interestingly, Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra are already in California, having moved on to a meeting with Heat free-agent guard DionWaiters.

After years of tormenting South Florida, Bradywas removed fromthis year’s Celtics’ equation, although likely for reasons beyond Boston’s failed bid for Durant. Hayward, it seems, is not a fan. Last season, when asked to choose between Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers by a Jazz reporter, Hayward replied, “Aaron Rodgers. I can’t stand TomBrady.”

But he is a big fan of Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who coached him into a firstround talent at Butler and picked him up at the airport Saturday following his flight fromMiami.

Just as this year’s courtship is toned down from last summer’s circus in the