Multiple league sources said the Celtics were stunned Friday night when one of their primary targets of this offseason, Pacers forward Paul George, was sent to the Thunder in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Domantas Sabonis.
The Celtics, sources said, had made a generous offer that included two starters as well as three first-round picks. Nevertheless, Celtics executives had no time to pout, as they immediately shifted their focus toward the prize of this free agent class, Jazz forward Gordon Hayward.
Hayward began his three-day, three-city recruitment tour Saturday with a stop in Miami to visit the Heat. As part of its pitch, the franchise unfurled a banner outside of AmericanAirlines Arena showing Hayward in a Miami uniform. According to the Miami Herald, the Heat’s group consisted of coaches, executives, and players Hassan Whiteside and Udonis Haslem.
Hayward was scheduled to arrive in Boston on Sunday for an all-day visit that will include multiple stops around the city, league sources said. According to one league source, the Celtics’ delegation will include All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas. Also, after a picture of Celtics forward Al Horford in an airport circulated Saturday on Twitter, Horford’s mother, Arelis Reynoso, said in a text message that her son had come to Boston for the Hayward meeting, too.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, for one, believes Boston is Hayward’s best option.
“I think we’re a better fit,” Brown said Saturday. “I think Gordon wants to win right away. I think Miami’s a nice city, but I think Boston has a rich history and basketball culture, and I think if he wants to add to his legacy, I think he’ll come to the Celtics.”
When Brown was asked what his primary selling point to Hayward would be, he responded: “The way we play. That’s our selling point.”
Brown is not expected to be part of the group that meets with Hayward, though, as he is on Boston’s summer league team that is departing for Salt Lake City on Sunday morning.
Last season the Celtics made a high-profile pitch to forward Kevin Durant in the Hamptons, bringing a group of recruiters that included Thomas, Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Marcus Smart, and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Brady will not be a part of this meeting, however. During an interview with a Jazz reporter last season, Hayward was asked to choose between Brady and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“Aaron Rodgers,” Hayward said. “I can’t stand Tom Brady.”
The rest of the group meeting with Hayward on Sunday could be different, too. Last season Crowder, who plays the same position as Hayward, voiced his displeasure with Celtics fans for cheering for the Jazz forward when Utah came to TD Garden. Olynyk, meanwhile, is a restricted free agent. Smart was working out at the Celtics’ practice facility Saturday afternoon, so he certainly could be an option.
The Celtics’ primary weapon should be Stevens. Stevens began recruiting Hayward when he coached at Butler and Hayward was a junior in high school in Brownsburg, Ind.
“Brad is very X’s and O’s and had a very level head about him,” said Hayward’s former high school coach, Joshua Kendrick. “And I think Gordon really appreciated that.”
The two were together at Butler for two years, including the 2009-10 season that ended with a loss to Duke in the NCAA championship game. Staff members from those Butler teams say they are unsure how much of an impact Stevens’s relationship with Hayward will have on this recruitment, but they said it certainly can only help.
After visiting the Celtics on Sunday, Hayward is scheduled to meet with the Jazz on Monday before making his decision. Hayward, 27, averaged 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Jazz last season and was named an All-Star for the first time.
For the Celtics, signing Hayward would help them rebound from failing to trade for George.
According to sources, there was widespread disbelief around the league when Indiana’s trade with Oklahoma City was completed, with rival executives calling each other to commiserate and even discuss their respective offers that were turned down by the Pacers.
According to one league source, the Celtics made several attempts to acquire George this season. Prior to the February trade deadline they offered a package centered on the 2017 first-round pick they were to receive from the Nets, as well as three other first-round choices. That Nets pick ultimately turned into the No. 1 overall selection after Boston won the draft lottery.
Talks resumed prior to the draft. By that time, though, the playoffs were over and George’s camp had been vocal about his desire to sign with the Lakers in 2018, so the asking price figured to drop.
Boston initially offered the Pacers three starters and two first-round picks, but the proposal did not include the Celtics’ two shiniest assets: the choice Boston will receive from the Nets next year, or the future first-round pick they received when they traded the top pick this year to the 76ers. The offer ultimately evolved to become three future first-round picks and two Celtics starters, a source said. But it was not enough.
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Center Amir Johnson agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract with the 76ers, a league source confirmed. Johnson averaged 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over his two seasons in Boston.
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The Celtics signed a pair of draft picks and agreed to a two-year deal with a forward out of Germany.
Boston officially inked Jayson Tatum, the third overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and Ante Zizic, the 23rd pick in last year’s draft.
The Celtics also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with German forward Daniel Theis, a league source confirmed. The source said the first year of Theis’s deal is fully guaranteed.
Theis spent this past season in Germany with Brose Bamberg of the EuroLeague. In 41 games, he averaged 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 61.8 percent.
Tatum and Zizic are playing summer league for the Celtics. Tatum’s arrival has generated considerable buzz, but Zizic is arguably the most intriguing player on this summer’s roster. The 6-foot-11-inch Croatian played last season in the high-level EuroLeague. He was stashed overseas for a season, playing for former Cavaliers coach David Blatt on the Turkish club Darussafaka Dogus.
“I think I can help this team with rebounding and toughness,” Zizic said last week, “because that’s my style of game. I prefer that.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach @globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.