Gordon Hayward chooses Celtics

By Associated Press | July 4, 2017 at 8:54p.m.

Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens were a couple inches from winning an NCAA championship together at Butler.

They are now reuniting, to try for an NBA title.

The top remaining free agent in this summer’s class is now off the board, with Hayward announcing Tuesday night with an essay on The Players’ Tribune site that he will sign with the Boston Celtics — coached by Stevens — and leave the Utah Jazz after seven seasons.

“This was a life-changing decision for me and my family, and something we took really seriously,” Hayward wrote. “And from the very start of this process, one thing stood out as important: I knew that I wanted the fans and the organizations to hear my decision directly from me.

“After seven years in Utah, I have decided to join the Boston Celtics.”