Gordon Hayward to Decline 2020-21 Player Option

The Boston Celtics could be without Gordon Hayward this season. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the 30-year-old has chosen not to exercise his player option for the 2020-21 campaign.

Turning down the option doesn’t mean that Hayward doesn’t intend to return to Boston, it just means that, if he does, it would be on a new contract.

Hayward was set to earn $34.5 million with his player option but could potentially negotiate a longer, more preferable deal in Boston or elsewhere.

Of course there have been reports of outsiders hoping to get their hands on Hayward. That’s a battle that a team like the Atlanta Hawks, with their ample cap space, are well equipped for. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported about their interest in the former Butler star.

More to come.