If the Cs are better next year, why would they trade GH during the season?The only complicating factor is that he has to know that opt-ing basically guarantees that he gets traded to a random destination next season without any say, right?
There’s no way Ainge lets that salary slot go to waste if Hayward isn’t totally killing it on the court. And I don’t think there will be any negative PR fallout: the Celtics have held up their end of the bargain with GH and then some, and the whole league knows it.
I don't envy DA's decision with respect to GH. if the team and Gh do well, maybe The Cs can do with GH what they tried to do with Al - sign him to a reduced annual value multi-year contract to preserve both player asset and salary slot.