Perhaps the Celtics could still end up getting something for Gordon Hayward after all.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported Saturday night that the Celtics and Hornets are still discussing the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Hayward.
News of Hayward agreeing to a four-year, $120 million deal with Charlotte broke Saturday afternoon. While the Hornets did need to create some cap space in order to fit Hayward, reports indicated that they would do so by waiving Nic Batum and stretching the rest of his deal ($27 million total) over the next three years.
It's obvious why Danny Ainge and the Celtics would want to keep a sign-and-trade alive: They get nothing in return for Hayward without it, and could get either a player or a trade exception with it.
The Hornets, unlike a cap-strapped team like the Pacers, never needed to do a sign-and-trade to get Hayward. But depending on what they would have to trade to the Celtics, they could decide it's a better route than eating $9 million a year on Batum's contract. Ainge could also potentially sweeten the deal with a future pick.