Stevens wins over Hayward again
Ricky Rubio flew halfway around the world to help Utah make its sales pitch. Miami had the red carpet rolled out, with plenty of staff and players around to do some wooing.
The Jazz and Heat made Gordon Hayward waver. But Brad Stevens won the Hayward recruiting battle — again.
In 2007, Stevens talked Hayward into signing a letter of intent to play college basketball at Butler. A decade later, Stevens talked Hayward into taking a four-year, $128 million contract to join the Boston Celtics.
So Stevens and Hayward reunite, after their two seasons at Butler nearly delivered an NCAA title.
"This has been the toughest decision that I've ever had to make in my life," Hayward wrote in his post on The Players' Tribune announcing his decision Tuesday night.
The Celtics took Hayward to Fenway Park on Sunday and talked to him about both the past and the future, Boston's legacy in sports, the magical years led by Bill Russell and Larry Bird and Paul Pierce, and the belief that a young core led by Isaiah Thomas is only going to keep getting better. The Red Sox were playing on the road, yet whatever Hayward felt visiting that baseball shrine clearly resonated.
"There were so many great things pulling me in that direction," Hayward wrote. "There was the winning culture of Boston, as a city — from the Sox, to the Pats, to the Bruins."
Jefferson will return to Cavs
Richard Jefferson announced on an episode of his "Road Trippin"' podcast Wednesday that he will be back with Cleveland next season, his 17th as a pro. Jefferson, who had contemplated quitting, has one guaranteed season left on his contract worth $2.5 million. He averaged 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 79 games.
Waiters stays with Heat
A person with knowledge of the situation said Dion Waiters is staying in Miami after agreeing to a new four-year, $52 million contract. He averaged 15.8 points in 46 games last season before missing the last 13 games with a badly sprained ankle.