I think he would get paid easily, he would be the best FA available if he enters free agency (assuming Davis stays in L.A).
I mean, i'm not saying he's getting a max, but i'd say getting a 90Mx3 contract still means getting paid
Personally i wouldn't, if he opts out he's the best free agent available, a two way wing that can create, shoot, pass, guard 3/4 positions...personally i would be shocked if he doesn't get at least 20M per season (which is what someone like Gordon gets), but that's just me. I don't expect him to get a max, but something in the 25/30M range per season eh, i wouldn't bet against it.
If Gordon Hayward opts out this offseason and gets an annual average salary of $30 million a year for more than one year I will make a donation on your behalf to @Clutch so you can be a supporting member.
Leverage to demand a trade. I could be him opting out and taking a 1 year 25 mill deal somewhere else if he really feels like the Celtics system will hold him back. Knicks, Pelicans, Hawks, Heat could all give him a 1 year deal to see what he can do.
Miami would have to dump a lot of salary to have that much cap room, and New Orleans isn't likely to have that much room if they plan on keeping Ingram. Atlanta and New York have the cap room, but if you're Hayward, do you really want to leave a contender to play for cellar dwellers in Atlanta or New York? If I'm Hayward, the one team with cap space that would intrigue me would be Memphis. They're already a borderline playoff team with a superstar point guard in the making, and they're projected to have as much as $50M in space. Phoenix will probably have $20M-$25M, and they would be intriguing as well. Edit: Actually after pulling up Miami's cap situation, they have way less on the books than I thought. I didn't realize so much of their roster was free agents.
It would be Hayward betting on himself. The Celtics seems to be a bit like the Spurs, the players play within their system, good for winning but not for pumping up stats for a big contract. Haywards injuries are clearly the cause for his diminished role in Boston, but he might also be putting some blame on the team naturally, Tatum/Walker/Brown is a lot of chefs in the kitchen for someone trying to earn another max. If Hayward goes to the Knicks he might be able to put up a 25ppg season and recoup his value.
No player will opt out of that contract unless they have an under the table handshake by another team who’s willing to pay him more over the course of longer years. I can see a team like PHI with DM who’s loved GH game since his time at Butler. Of course PHI would have to move Harris and Horford‘s contracts but in today’s NBA where Westbrook and CP3’s contract where moved I won’t rule anything out. If anyone is thinking the Rockets have a chance I’m sorry to break it to you but they don’t. Unless they are willing to move Gordon and either PJ or Covington I don’t see that happening. A team to look out for is MIA who wanted Hayward before he left to BOS. Atlanta may be a surprise if the chose to entertain a guy like Hayward but they definitely have the most cap space to spend. And of course you have NY that desperately needs shooters to surround RJ.
Agreed, Spurs and Pacers are also teams i can see having interest in Hayward depending on what they'll end doing with Derozan, Oladipo/Turner.
