NBA Trade Rumors: Utah Jazz Looking to Trade Away Gordon Hayward?

Jun 23, 2016 11:37 AM EDT

New reports indicate that a trade involving Gordon Hayward and the Utah Jazz is imminent especially since the athlete is reportedly unhappy with his current status in the team. In response to these reports, the team's general manager Dennis Lindsey has released a statement to clarify the matter.

Hayward has been playing for the Jazz since 2010 after he was selected by the team as the ninth overall pick. During his entire career with the team, the shooting guard averaged 14.6 points per game.

However, according to NESN, Hayward is unhappy with the team and actually wants to be traded away. The report also noted that the team is actively looking for another team that's willing to take Hayward.

If a trade involving Hayward does happen, then Jazz will probably do it with the Boston Celtics. For one, the Boston franchise owns eight picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Negotiating a deal with the Celtics could be very beneficial for the Jazz is it will provide them with an opportunity to draft a high profile athlete.

Hayward, on the other hand, will most likely fit well in Boston especially since he played for Celtics coach Brad Stevens when he was still in Butler University.

But, almost immediately after the trade rumors broke out, Lindsey of the Boston franchise stepped forward to state that the relationship between Hayward and the Celtics is going steady.

"Any speculation that Gordon or the Jazz have expressed 'unhappiness' with each other had not happened," he told the Salt Lake Tribune. "In fact, the relationship has grown deeper every year. Gordon, Robyn, Bernie and their relatives are considered core to the Utah Jazz family."

Lindsey also noted that the Utah franchise has no plans to trade Hayward to another team.

Aside from the statement made by the general manager, Hayward has also reportedly built a house in Utah and has been spending the offseason working out in the team's facility. This clearly indicates that he is serious about staying with the team for the 2016-2017 season. But apart from the upcoming season, he's also focused on joining the Olympic team.