Hayward announces he's going to Celtics

Gordon Hayward is bound for the Boston Celtics, he announced Tuesday night via a post on The Players' Tribune. The contract is for a reported four years and $128 million, a league source told The Vertical's Shams Charania.

"As you can see, it's taken me a while, and thanks to everyone for their patience," Hayward wrote in the piece.

The decision came during a bizarre day in which it was reported he would sign with the Celtics, only to have his agent deny the star forward had made any choice yet.

Hayward leaves the Utah Jazz - the only NBA team he's ever played for - having averaged 15.7 points and 4.2 rebounds over seven seasons, and after earning his first All-Star nod in 2016-17. He said he sympathizes with the team's fans.

"I know that will be tough to hear ... and I really want you all to know that you mean the world to me and my family," he wrote. "Over the past few days, I've been genuinely torn."

Landing Hayward means the Celtics have signed an All-Star free-agent forward for the second straight summer - they added Al Horford last year. This addition should be accompanied with a sigh of relief from some Boston fans, who were getting nervous after their team missed out on trade action for Jimmy Butler and Paul George.