Prior to signing with the Boston Celtics on a four-year deal worth $128 million over this past offseason, All-Star forward Gordon Hayward had strongly considered the Miami Heat as a possible landing spot.
In fact, it was one of three final choices alongside the Celtics and Utah Jazz. Despite all that, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel that he respected whatever decision that the 27-year-old made in free agency.
“We've had it play out both ways — in spectacular fashion both ways,” Spoelstra said. “So we absolutely respected his choice to be a free agent and make what he felt was the best choice for him and his family.
“We told him right from the get-go, you can't go wrong. That's one of those decision in your career that very players have. Any one of those choices were great choices, great organizations, that each organization respects structure and the commitment to winning. And that's where you want to be as a free agent, where you can't really make a mistake.”
The fact that Hayward from the get-go had the Heat as one of his final possible choices in free agency looks to have a made a tremendous impact on the organization. On top of that, it is a difficult choice for any player to make as it completely alters the next chapter of his career.
Keep in mind, he had spent the first seven years in the NBA all with the Utah Jazz where he established a strong level of connection with the organization and its fan base. This may have been why it took a few days for him to make up his mind on where he wanted to sign in free agency.
Although Hayward now finds himself in a tough situation of having to work his way back from a gruesome broken leg injury that he suffered a few minutes into his debut with the Celtics, he has earned the support from many others around the league including the Spoelstra and the Heat organization.
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