​Today in Boston Celtics history, the team officially signed All-Star veteran forward Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz in free agency, following a dispute that went down on the Fourth of July holiday regarding his departure from the Jazz after conflicting reports clouded the picture. The Butler alum’s contract, which spanned four years and was valued at $128 million with a player option for the final year, started under gruesome circumstances that required several seasons for Hayward to overcome.A devastating injury to his ankle ended Hayward’s first season with Boston just a few minutes into the 2018-19 NBA season. The Indiana native worked diligently over the next two seasons to get back to his old self and abilities. Unfortunately, by the time he had mostly recovered his game, it was on a team that needed him in less of a starring and more of a supporting role. As a result, Hayward decided to decamp to the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 offseason.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game with the Celtics over three seasons.INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 17: Former Butler Bulldogs head coach and President of Basketball Operations of the Boston Celtics Brad Stevens speaks with former Butler Bulldogs and NBA Player Gordon Hayward during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hinkle Fieldhouse on October 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)It is also the anniversary of former Celtic big man Chris Wilcox signing with the team in 2012. Wilcox, a former Maryland standout, had last played for the Detroit Pistons before signing on to reinforce Boston’s aging frontcourt in the latter days of the Banner 17 crew. He played 89 games over two seasons with the franchise. The Raleigh, North Carolina, native averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 boards in his time in green and white.A pivotal moment in Celtics history came in 1978. Legendary team president Red Auerbach decided to turn down an offer from the New York Knicks, after the Celtics’ new owner, John Y. Brown, had made a mess of his roster by making trades without consulting Auerbach.Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports“Average fans, not the season‐ticket holders or the rich ones,” continued Auerbach, “but the average guy just stopped me and said, ‘Red, don’t leave.’”“From there it just spread to my players, former players. I got calls from John Havlicek, Frank Ramsay, Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White. Everyone just let me know in no uncertain terms that they wanted me to stay, and I found that very flattering. Havlicek told me he wouldn’t be there on opening night to have his number retired if I left Boston. When I left to go to New York to meet with Werblin and Burke, the pilot on the Eastern shuttle said, ‘Hey Red, don’t leave.’”Mercifully, he did not.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFinally, today is also the day former Boston forward Jordan Mickey was waived by the Celt