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All-Star Gordon Hayward signs with Boston Celtics; Utah Jazz jersey burning begins

By The Sports Xchange
Clippers' forward Luc Mbah a Moute shoots over Jazz forward Gordon Hayward in game 5 of their best-of seven Western Conference playoff series against the Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 25, 2017. File photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
Clippers' forward Luc Mbah a Moute shoots over Jazz forward Gordon Hayward in game 5 of their best-of seven Western Conference playoff series against the Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 25, 2017. File photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo

All-Star swingman Gordon Hayward has elected to rejoin his collegiate coach by agreeing to sign with the Boston Celtics, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

Hayward spurned his now former team in the Utah Jazz as well as the Miami Heat to commit to the Celtics and Brad Stevens, who coached him at Butler.

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However, Hayward's agent Mark Bartelstein offered this comment to ESPN around 2:30 p.m. ET: "Gordon hasn't made a decision yet. We are still working through it."

Boston's big-name commitment on the free agent market is the team's second in as many years. The Celtics signed Al Horford last year.

The Jazz endured a difficult Tuesday with point guard George Hill agreeing to a three-year, $57 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to The Vertical. Hill averaged a career-best 16.9 points to go along with 4.2 assists in 49 games last season due to an assortment of injuries.

Hayward met with Miami on Saturday and Boston the following day before a contingent from the Jazz -- including the recently acquired Ricky Rubio -- met with Hayward at his home in San Diego on Monday.

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His Boston visit included a game at Fenway Park and a meeting with point guard Isaiah Thomas. He was picked up at the airport by Stevens.

The 27-year-old Hayward will command a maximum salary after opting out of the final season of his contract.

As the news began to spread of Hayward's departure from the Jazz, so did the flames. One fan in particular torched his Hayward jersey with the caption "#betrayward."

Hayward averaged a career-best 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to go along with 3.5 assists last season for the Jazz, who made their first playoff appearance since 2012.

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