The Boston Celtics made a huge splash this offseason by landing All-Star forward Gordon Hayward in free agency.
It was a difficult decision-making process for Hayward that was narrowed down to choosing between the Celtics and Utah Jazz. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Gordon Hayward Sr. revealed that Boston's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals was a huge factor in him deciding to make the jump.
Hayward Sr. said that if the Celtics had defeated the Cavaliers in the conference finals, his son would have been less interested. But it was clear watching them get pummeled by LeBron James that they needed help, and perhaps he could provide it.
This is eerie similar to Kevin Durant‘s reasoning to join the Golden State Warriors last summer. Durant has publicly stated that he wouldn't have left the Oklahoma City Thunder had the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Like Durant, Hayward wants to be the missing piece to the puzzle to help get his new team over the hump to compete for an NBA Championship. It also helps that Boston provides him with the best chance to win.
The Celtics' shortcomings in the playoffs could come to be quite beneficiary to the franchise's championship aspirations and long-term future. They have a great mix of young assets with experienced talent and young stars to take down LeBron James and co. this next season.
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