Gordon Hayward is Leaving the Boston Celtics

Imagine walking away from $34.2 million?

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Gordon Hayward has decided he no longer wants to be a part of the Boston Celtics and has declined his player option for the 2020-21 season.

Hayward immediately jumps to near the top of the unrestricted free-agent list and will now field offers from any interested team. The New York Knicks will be blowing up Hayward's phone, as they are one of only a few teams who have substantial cap space to work with.

The Knicks have been aggressive in their pursuit of Gordon Hayward all week, sources say

Amid a growing belief leaguewide that Hayward will decline his $34 million player option for next season, New York may loom as Hayward's best option given all the Knicks' newfound cap space
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 19, 2020

The 6'7 Hayward can score in bunches when healthy, and his injuries may have lead to him falling down the depth chart for the Celtics. Last year, Hayward averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in just over 33 minutes a game.