Yesterday was the third day of NBA free agency and it was very quiet, with only three signings taking place. Some were speculating that many teams were waiting to make moves until after marquee free agent, All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward, made his decision on where to play. Luckily, that wait is over as he is going to the Boston Celtics.

Gordon Hayward is going to Boston

Following Gordon Hayward's meetings over the last couple of days with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Utah Jazz, the All-Star free agent finally made his decision. Hayward shared his decision to join the Celtics and thanked his team of the last seven seasons, the Jazz, in an article on the 'Players' Tribune' titled "Thank You, Utah." Hayward's max contract is four-years, $128 million and he does have a player option on that fourth season.

The move to go to Boston means that Hayward will be reunited with Brad Stevens, who was his college coach for the two seasons he spent at Butler and was one of the first players he recruited. This also pairs him up with two-time All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas and four-time All-Star center Al Horford.

Hayward now joins a 53-win Celtics team who was the top seed in the East and got to the Conference Finals. Last season Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 3.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1 steal. This was his career-best season in terms of points and rebounds per game. He also shot 47.1% from the field and 39.8% on three-pointers.

The price of the Celtics getting Gordon Hayward

The Boston Celtics will now have to make a number of moves to actually sign Hayward, which they started by pulling their qualifying offer to center Kelly Olynyk., making him a free agent.

Then they will have to renounce free agents Gerald Green, Jonas Jerebko and James Young. They will also have to waive the non-guaranteed contract of Jordan Mickey and also either waive or trade Demetrius Jackson and his partially non-guaranteed contract. Lastly, they will have to move either Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier.

Olynyk, Green, and Jerebko were all key bench players for the team last season. Out of the four guys, they will have to trade, Crowder is likely the odd man out. There has been speculation of him being moved if Gordon Hayward was acquired since they play the exact same position. Smart would likely be next, as there are already rumors of him and Crowder being on the trade block.