Michael Jordan眷顧的男人：Gordon Hayward四年1億2000萬加盟黃蜂 - NBA - 籃球

Michael Jordan眷顧的男人：Gordon Hayward四年1億2000萬加盟黃蜂 - NBA - 籃球

今年夏天Gordon Hayward情歸何處，自從他跳出球員選項後就一直是NBA球迷的熱門話題。很多隊伍都對他展現了高度的興趣，但誰也想不到最後得手的是夏洛特黃蜂，與他們的老闆Michael Jordan。

如果單就今年來看，黃蜂在這次搶人大戰中，宛若一匹半路殺出的黑馬，但事實上這一切有跡可循，甚至可以追溯至2014年，當青澀的Gordon Hayward還是受限自由球員時。

Michael Jordan called Gordon Hayward late last night in an effort to close the deal for Charlotte, Hayward tells ESPN today. Hayward obviously remembers how MJ and Hornets signed him to an offer sheet in restricted free agency in 2014. — Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) November 21, 2020

當時的Michael ​Jordan對Hayward就「很有愛」，向23歲的他提出了一份4年6300萬的合約。不過最後爵士匹配了報價，Jordan第一次錯過了Hayward。

在那之前，Hayward打出了嶄露頭角的一季。他承接老大哥Al Jefferson與Paul Millsap離隊後的空缺，77場出賽都是先發，場均上陣36.4分鐘，貢獻16.2分5.1助攻5.2籃板，多項數據都寫下個人新高。

雖然球隊戰績不理想，25勝57負，勝率寫下隊史十年來的新低，連續第二年無緣季後賽，但之後的事實證明，喬老闆當年並沒有看走眼。

Hayward持續穩定成長，甚至在2017年首度獲選為All-Star。26歲的他與總教練Quincy Snyder共同奮鬥了三年，終於幫助球隊重返季後賽，例行賽也寫下51勝31敗的佳績，最終止步於西區第二輪。

那一年，他們先以「4比3」淘汰了坐擁Chris Paul、Blake Griffin的快艇，第二輪才被金州勇士橫掃。對手是剛剛找來Kevin Durant、最後奪下該年冠軍的勇士，艱辛渡過首輪的爵士可以說是盡力了。

他們也不是一無所獲，Hayward在該年季後賽場均24.1分6.1籃板3.4助攻，三度單場飆破30分；面臨換約的Rudy Gobert迎來飛躍性的成長，入選防守第一隊、年度第二隊，來年可謂充滿希望。

但在那年夏天，Hayward選擇投入自由市場，離開了猶他爵士。但這次他也沒有投向Jordan的懷抱，而是加盟塞爾蒂克，與大學恩師Brad Stevens團聚。

而這次，Jordan就再也沒有遲疑，選擇大手筆把Hayward帶回夏洛特，合約四年1億2000萬，甚至裁掉了合約剩下一年的Nicolas Batum，清出薪資空間來迎接他。

六年來三顧茅廬，Jordan的美夢終於成真－－即便Gordon Hayward不再年輕，還受過驚悚的大傷。這次他得到的是球技更臻成熟，往上能支援到四號位、能控能投的全能前鋒。

Danny Ainge has signed 2 big time FAs in his entire tenure with the Celtics: Al Horford & Gordon Hayward.

He lost them both for nothing, with no obvious way to replace either, without either ever playing in a Finals game. — nick wright (@getnickwright) November 21, 2020

Hayward放棄最後3410萬的球員選項後，亞特蘭大老鷹、紐約尼克等隊很希望能得到他，也有消息指出，在印地安納土生土長的Hayward，本人則希望能回到家鄉球隊印第安納溜馬。

在2010年的選秀會上，第十順位的溜馬「差一點」就能選到家鄉小英雄Hayward，那時他差點幫Butler大學逆轉奪冠－－無奈前一個順位被猶他爵士攔胡，他們只好選擇Paul George。

兩人的生涯自此交錯，同樣從SG慢慢能打到PF，逐步成長為球隊仰賴的明星前鋒，但也都受過嚴重的腿部傷勢，離開了本來以為會一直打下去的球隊。

Paul George於去年回到了家鄉洛杉磯，加盟快艇；而這次Hayward雖然拿到了選擇的機會，但他依舊沒有落葉歸根，從波士頓飛往南方的夏洛特，再次遠離家鄉。

有趣的是，ESPN的記者Zach Lowe爆料，除了開出鉅額合約，Michael ​Jordan在星期五晚間還曾經「親自」打電話給Hayward，展現了十足的誠意 。

【塞爾提克寒假作業】塞爾提克和Gordon Hayward的和平分手 - NBA - 籃球

在最近四年內三次闖進東區總冠軍賽但卻都鎩羽而歸後，球迷們都相當好奇老狐狸Danny Ainge在今年休賽季會用什麼樣的方式來提升球隊的實力以及天賦。

在疫情的影響下，今年的選秀會將會在11/18舉行，11/20就會開啟球員自由市場，在時間壓縮的情況下很有可能會在短時間內有非常多的操作。

這個系列的文章將會分成選秀、自由市場以及球員發展分析並介紹塞爾提克可能的補強計畫，這是塞爾提克寒假作業的第二集—Gordon Hayward的去向分析。

【塞爾提克寒假作業】選秀籤就是要選好選滿啊，不然呢？：https://www.sportsv.net/articles/79066

在加盟塞爾提克三季後，Gordon Hayward也終於要面對最困難的問題，要留在恩師Brad Stevens的手下繼續衝擊冠軍，還是要像去年的Al Horford一樣跳出合約尋求球員生涯的最後一張大合約。而我認為和塞爾提克和平分手會是對塞爾提克和Gordon Hayward而言都好的決定，因為在塞爾提克肯定要騰出空間幫Jayson Tatum簽延長合約的情況下，不可能有辦法再給予Hayward那麼高額的薪水。

對塞爾提克而言，Hayward的離開肯定是會帶來非常多的負面影響，但是其實也是有非常多的好處，以下會分析讓Hayward離開會有哪些好處和壞處，以及塞爾提克要如何做到最大程度的止血。

先從壞處開始講起，最顯而易見的壞處就是塞爾提克的鋒線陣容強度會大打折扣，在Jaylen Brown、Jayson Tatum和Romeo Langford仍舊有許多需要養成的面向的情況下，失去一個能夠作為模範的全能鋒線球員對於年輕的鋒線群是非常可惜的，尤其是Hayward的敬業態度對於初入聯盟的球員們會有極為深遠的影響。

第二個壞處是形成戰術端上的漏洞。在今年的賽季，當Kemba Walker下場休息時，塞爾提克會頓時失去負責控制節奏的指揮官，在Brad Stevens的理想配置中，三個鋒線球員都應該要有掌控場上節奏的能力，但對年輕的Brown和Tatum而言還太過於困難。除了Kemba以外唯一能穩定軍心的球員就是Hayward了，所以失去Hayward這個組織點就代表著塞爾提克對於組織控衛的需求大幅提升了。

雖然Hayward的離開可能會對球隊戰力以及年輕球員培養造成極大的傷害，但這同時也會帶來一些好處。第一個好處就是減輕球隊薪資的壓力，如果Hayward選擇執行他的球員選項，那麼塞爾提克的球隊薪資將會超過硬上限，會大幅度的增加球隊在自由市場上補強的難度。在空出Hayward的薪資空間後，塞爾提克也有了更多的操作空間在今年就開始進行更長遠的布局。

第二個好處是解放要馬上爭冠的壓力，當然塞爾提克在失去Hayward的情況下也仍舊會是東區非常強勁的競爭者，但在沒有頂薪的壓力下塞爾提克不需要去強求「Win now」，而是可以在繼續爭冠的同時有更多的機會去培養年輕球員，重新去打造專屬於Brad Stevens的三鋒線陣容。

Hayward在加盟塞爾提克的三年來不斷經歷各種大大小小的傷病，也間接地導致了這三年來都沒辦法用百分之百的陣容去挑戰冠軍金盃，這是最為可惜的一點，而如今Hayward也需要為了他球員生涯中的最後一張大合約去作出選擇。當Hayward和球團做出延長執行球員選項的期限時，就大致上代表著他不可能選擇執行球員選項了，他唯一執行球員選項可能性就是執行先簽後換。

根據外媒所釋出的情報，目前有意願和塞爾提克進行交易的球隊有兩支，分別是紐約尼克以及亞特蘭大老鷹，這兩支球隊都擁有非常多的籌碼可以談判，接下來會針對這兩支球隊可能的交易包裹來進行分析。

紐約尼克

在經過了好幾年的失敗養成後，尼克在這一季迎來了Tom Thibodeau作為總教練，勢必要重新開始建立起贏球的文化，讓球隊的核心年輕球員可以學會如何用正確的方式去打球，並且試著重返季後賽的行列。而Gordon Hayward的加入將會極為有效的幫助RJ Barrett成長，而且也可以同時擔任在球隊中穩定軍心的老大哥以及維持戰力的一號得分手。

NBA free agency 2020: Gordon Hayward to sign four-year, $120 million deal with Hornets

MMA Weekly

UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko passed a strong test from Jennifer Maia at UFC 255 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Though Maia was tough and pressed Shevchenko, the champion proved why she is considered one fo the top fighters on the planet. Shevchenko has been stellar during her UFC tenure. Though she lost one time – to Liz Carmouche – prior to stepping into the Octagon, the only fighter to whom she has lost under the UFC banner has been Amanda Nunes, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Shevchenko looked sharp with her hands early, but surprisingly clinched and tossed Maia to her back in the opening minute of the opening round. Maia did a good job of trying to tie up Shevchenko’s arms, but couldn’t stop the peppering punches and punishing elbows. She did, however, manage to escape with little damage. Shevchenko clinched and took Maia to the canvas as soon as round two opened, but the challenger immediately escaped to her feet and put Shevchenko up against the fence. Shevchenko tried to fight her way out, but Maia eventually put her on the canvas. Round two was a strong frame for Maia, who worked from inside Shevchenko’s half guard and full guard for the remainder fo the round, controlling position on the champion. Having spent much of the second frame on her back, Shevchenko went head hunting in round three. She landed a few sharp shots in the early moments of the frame before Maia briefly put her back to the fence. Shevchenko escaped and went back to her sharp shooting, landing a head kick followed a short time later with a blistering punch combination. Having stung Maia, Shevchenko clinched and again dragged her to the canvas. The champion went to work from half guard, but Maia used her jiu-jitsu skills to work the fight back to standing, and once again pinned Shevchenko to the fence. In the final 10 seconds of round three, Shevchenko scored another takedown, likely doing enough to secure the round. Heading into the fourth frame, it appeared that Shevchenko was likely up 29-28 on the scorecards. Blood dripping from the noses of both women, Shevchenko stung early with a hard left hand to open the fourth round. Finding her distance, Shevchenko landed several more shots in the first two minutes of the round. Maia answered with a solid right hand, but Shevchenko clinched and put Maia on her back again, quickly pinning her against the fence. Shevchenko put her fist in Maia’s face and planted shoulder punches until she could advance to more of a top position, although still in Maia’s half guard. It was another strong round for Shevchenko, who had Maia needing a finish to win the fight heading into the final round. Shevchenko stuck Maia with a jab, but missed with a spinning backfist, finding her back up against the fence. She quickly reversed and escaped, however, once again sticking her jab in Maia’s face. Maia powered forward, only to face a Shevchenko blitz of punches. Weathering the storm, Maia clinched and pressed Shevchenko into the fence. The champ escaped again, hurting Maia with another punch combination. Holding her ground, Maia’s face was covered with blood, as Shevchenko continued to fire with her arsenal of punches and kicks. Maia wasn’t backing down, but didn’t have an answer for Shevchenko’s stellar striking. Maia snuck in the occasional power shot, but wore evidence of Shevchenko’s punches and elbows on her face. The judges saw the fight unanimously, 49-46 on all three scorecards, for the champ. The victory was Shevchenko’s fourth UFC flyweight title defense, keeping her in the rarified air as one of the greatest fighters on the planet. TRENDING > Invicta FC 43 highlights: Kayla Harrison wins in brutal fashion “I am glad it went five rounds. After a long layoff, I needed to feel the spirit of the fight,” Shevchenko said after the fight, acknowledging that she had suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury earlier in the year that required surgery. “It was MCL. It was surgery. So we just took a little bit extra months to make sure (it was fully healed).” With the victory over Maia, Shevchenko could be on target to next defend her belt against Jessica Andrade, who recently supplanted Kaitlyn Chookagian as the No. 1 contender in the UFC women’s flyweight division.