Hayward decides to join Celtics
Jazz star reunites with ex-coach, draws four-year, $128 million deal
Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens were a couple inches from winning an NCAA championship together at Butler.
They are now reuniting, to try for an NBA title.
The top remaining free agent in this summer’s class is now off the board, with Hayward announcing Tuesday night with an essay on The Players’ Tribune site that he will sign with the Boston Celtics — coached by Stevens — and leave the Utah Jazz after seven seasons.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Hayward agreed to a four-year contract, the last of those years being a player option, with a total value of around $128 million.
It was a decision that Hayward said he agonized over, and he said he was impressed by the pitches — albeit unsuccessful ones — that Miami and Utah made for him over the last few days. But his ties to Stevens, and the memories of how close they were to a title, seemed to weigh very heavily on his mind throughout this process.
Butler went to the NCAA championship game in back-to-back seasons under Stevens in 2010 and 2011, losing to Duke and Connecticut. In the 2010 game, Hayward’s desperation shot to win the title from midcourt narrowly missed as time expired and Duke won 61-59.
From there, Hayward went to the NBA. Not long afterward, Stevens followed. And now, they’re together again.
Hayward joins a Boston team that was the No. 1 seed in last season’s Eastern Conference playoffs. He was finally an All-Star for the first time last season, averaging career bests of 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Bosh, Heat make parting official
Chris Bosh’s time with the Miami Heat is officially over.
Weeks after the sides came to a final agreement on how to part ways and more than a year since his last NBA appearance because of blood-clot issues, Bosh was waived by the Heat on Tuesday.
The move was a formality.
It gives Miami access to $25.3 million in salarycap space for this coming season, which the Heat will use to sign free agents starting Thursday. Bosh still gets that salary, plus $26.8 million for next season, and in theory could continue his career — if another team declares him fit to play.
The Heat also announced his No. 1 jersey has been retired.
Odds and ends
The Kings added veteran help to their young roster by agreeing to freeagent contracts with forward Zach Randolph and point guard George Hill. Randolph left Memphis for a $24 million, twoyear deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. Yahoo Sports first reported Hill, who spent last season with Utah, will get $57 million over three years. … Former Hawks forward Mike Scott has agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year contract with the Wizards, according to a person familiar with the deal. …
A person with knowledge of the details says exRaptors forward Patrick Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $16.4 million deal with the Thunder. … Timberwolves first-round pick Justin Patton will not play in summer league after breaking his left foot during a workout.