The Celtics' attempt to reach a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz, using Jae Crowder to acquire cap space for the Gordon Hawyard signing, stalled Thursday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Since landing Hayward, Boston has been aggressively pursuing options to afford Hayward's $128 million max contract. In the wake of the stalled sign and trade, Wojnarowski reports the Celtics have been shopping Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and/or Crowder to other NBA clubs.
Sources: Boston, Utah sign-and-trade talks dormant since AM. Celtics engaged throughout NBA on Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2017
Should the Celtics bring back Bradley, Smart and Isaiah Thomas after next summer, their payroll could jump into the $150 million range and send Boston into the luxury tax. Smart, in the final year of his rookie deal and slated to make $4.5 million, is eligible for an extension. Crowder is owed $6.79 million next season and Bradley is entering the final year of his deal worth $8.8 million.
