Just over two years ago, former Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward made his big debut for the Boston Celtics in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After signing a max deal to move from Salt Lake City to Beantown that summer, it felt like the first step in his journey to help the Cs reclaim their spot as the East’s best squad.
We all know how that one played out — instead of taking it to LeBron James and Co. and making a statement, Hayward fractured his left fibula and dislocated his ankle and endured a grueling rehab and, later, re-acclimation process as his team underachieved.