The Boston Celtics made a big-time addition in early July, inking free agent forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year max contract to take over the “1-B” spot to the “1-A” of Isaiah Thomas. While that transaction is now in the rear view mirror and Avery Bradley is in Detroit as a result of the salary cap machinations necessary to execute it, the intrigue is just beginning.
The on-court dynamics won’t be addressed until the season begins in October but, until then, there is already an uproar as to the number that Hayward will wear on his back in Boston. On Friday, the Celtics announced that Hayward will assume No. 20 (his number from Utah), and that means that future Hall of Fame shooting guard Ray Allen’s number won’t be retired by the organization.
At forward, 6'8" from Butler, @gordonhayward #WelcomeGordon pic.twitter.com/tZpRPwWSFy
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 14, 2017
Allen spent five seasons with the Celtics organization, and while they probably weren’t his prime years, he was involved in bringing the 2008 championship to Boston alongside Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce. However, Allen was the first to leave Boston in signing with Miami, and despite one of the biggest shots in NBA history with the Heat, his departure didn’t always sit well with the Celtics.
Back in May, members of the 2008 title-winning team addressed what could be described as a beef with Allen, and this wasn’t the first time that such a bad taste had been referenced publicly. Still, it is a bit odd to have a soon-to-be Hall of Fame player’s jersey number back out for use just a few years after his exit, even if Hayward has worn No. 20 in both Utah and during his college tenure at Butler.
Just how much of a “slap in the face” this is to Ray Allen is up for interpretation. On one hand, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine Allen’s image in Springfield not including a Celtics jersey. On the other, he was a key cog on a title team for one of the league’s flagship franchises, and this is just a weird set-up overall. Let’s just say that there will be some disagreement about this choice from the Celtics perspective, and it makes some sense on both sides.
