Hayward says he wanted to the Heat before signing with the Celtics: "We don't even have to do the other meetings"

As one of the most coveted free agents in the summer of 2017, Gordon Hayward had plenty of suitors. He ended up signing a four-year max deal worth $128 million with the Boston Celtics , but Gordon could have easily landed elsewhere.

That was elsewhere, in Miami, after he had been impressed during his visit to South Beach. Hayward not only liked the Heat as an organization, but he was also a fan of Erik Spoelstra, Pat Riley, and the beaches.

"I basically visited three teams," said Hayward on the Dan LeBatard Show. "I started with Miami, then did Boston, then finished with Utah, meeting with all those teams. I remember vividly telling my agent after each meeting, like I started with Miami, and I'm like, 'I want to go to Miami. We don't even need to do the other meetings.' Miami is the place I want to be, and he kind of was like, 'Well, we got to hear everyone out.'

Reuniting with Stevens in Boston

So Hayward ended up listening to the Celtics' pitch, too. Unfortunately for the Heat, Boston's head coach back then was Brad Stevens, who coached Gordon at Butler. A reunion was on the horizon.

Hayward starred at Butler under Stevens, and they came inches away from winning the 2010 NCAA men's basketball title. With their history of success and friendship, he couldn't say no to Brad. However, he admitted he almost signed with Miami.

"The Heat have always been a first-class organization," added Hayward. "So I was really, really close to signing there. I feel like Spo is one of the best coaches in the league, and obviously, Pat Riley is legendary in his own right. I was very close. Also, my brother-in-law lives in Miami. My wife would have loved living there and the beach and everything, but ultimately decided to go to Boston."

Related: Patrick Beverley talks about his full circle moment with Michael Jordan: "His boat a little bigger than mine, but I came on a boat too"

Doomed from the start

Unfortunately for Hayward, there wouldn't be a fairytale ending with Stevens. On the opening night of the 2017-18 season against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gordon suffered a horrific ankle injury and missed the rest of the season. He came back the following year but never recovered his All-Star form. At the start of this month, the Butler product announced his retirement.

There was a chance Hayward could've even achieved more if he had signed with the Heat instead. Perhaps he would've never suffered that career-altering injury. At the rate Gordon was improving pre-injury, he could have become a full-fledged star in Miami. But that's not how things unfolded.

Related: Hayward's wife responds to Presti calling his trade to OKC a miss: "Why trade for someone and not play them?"