After Conflicting Reports, Gordon Hayward Announces He's Signing With Boston Celtics

FINAL UPDATE:

After all that confusion, it turns out the first report was right: Gordon Hayward is heading to the Boston Celtics. Hayward confirmed his decision in a piece on the Players' Tribune, though he says the original report still jumped the gun. Either way, Hayward is heading to Boston.

Original story below: 

Gordon Hayward's free agency has turned into a circus. There are multiple conflicting reports about whether or not Hayward had decided to sign with the Boston Celtics. Now, it's unclear what Hayward will decided and when Hayward will sign. Here's everything you need to know on Hayward's free agency, including when he could decide. 

The Hayward free agency chaos started when ESPN's Chris Haynes reported Hayward would sign. 

Free-agent Gordon Hayward plans to sign with the Boston Celtics, league sources tell ESPN.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 4, 2017

That was quickly backed up by multiple reports. 

Can confirm that Gordon Hayward intends to sign with the Boston Celtics. @ChrisBHaynes first.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 4, 2017

Can confirm the @ChrisBHaynes report: Sources close to Hayward say he is signing in Boston.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 4, 2017

But then came the reports that Hayward actually hadn't made a decision. Thus began the chaos. 

The Utah Jazz are still waiting to be told of Gordon Hayward's intentions, league source tells ESPN. Hayward hasn't told them his plans yet.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017

Gordon Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, tells ESPN: "Gordon hasn't made a decision yet. We are still working through it."

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017

Okay. Strap in. Told by a source w/knowledge of the process that Gordon Hayward has NOT made a decision yet & is still in the process. FWIW.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 4, 2017

However, Haynes has not yet retracted his report and is standing by it. There's even a report that it's just a formality.

Couple of league sources now saying teams haven't been notified of Hayward decision yet, and others saying it's done. Sounds like formality.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 4, 2017

Another plausible option in all of this is that Hayward's decision was leaked before he had a chance to notify the Jazz or make the announcement himself. As a result, Hayward is backtracking to save some face with Utah. There's even report that a sign-and-trade is holding things up, although that seems unlikely. 

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So when will the decision announcement happen? The original plan was to announce today, but now it might not happen. 

Hayward's agent Mark Bartelstein on whether final word is coming today: "That was the goal, but now we've got to kind of regroup here a bit"

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 4, 2017

may not be until tomorrow https://t.co/F3VBpyu2IX

— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) July 4, 2017

In the interim, Twitter has run wild with theories. There's the "Pat Riley leaked this" theory, the "Hayward can't make up his mind" theory or that Hayward is upset the Celtics leaked his decision. 

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What was supposed to be a simple decision between the Heat, Jazz and Celtics has become anything but. At some point Hayward will make his decision, but his free agency has become a confusing circus. 

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