Pacers President: Gordon Hayward Trade Pursued ‘As Hard as We Possibly Could’

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Indiana Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard provided some insight into his team’s attempt to orchestrate a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics for Gordon Hayward. 

“We pursued [a Hayward trade] as hard as we possibly could,” Pritchard told Bob Kravitz of The Athletic on Wednesday.

“Other than that, between two teams, I feel like that’s a very private thing. I don’t like when it gets out in the media.”

Hayward, who was on the Celtics from 2017-2020, declined his 2020-21 player option to become a free agent. Word emerged that the Pacers were in the mix to land Hayward via a sign-and-trade, although that never came to fruition.

Pritchard added more insight:

“I don’t want to go into specific people, but if you can add a player who materially improves you, you have to take a shot and not be afraid.

“It hurt a little more this time because the feedback was that he [Hayward] really wanted to be here. … It just can’t come at a cost that it’s so debilitating, it doesn’t make sense.”

Hayward eventually signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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