On Tuesday afternoon, Gordon Hayward and the Celtics delayed the decision on Hayward’s $34 million player option to Thursday at 5 p.m. The move likely affirms that Hayward will not opt into the final year of his contract and assures that Hayward’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, a longtime negotiator across from Danny Ainge, is fully engaged with the Celtics about Hayward’s future.
Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reports that the Atlanta Hawks — cap space rich at $44 million — hope to acquire Hayward. There’s also the long time flirtation with his hometown Indiana Pacers and of course, the possibility that Hayward could sign a new, long-term deal to stay in Boston.