Kyrie Irving Wants to Develop Chemistry with Gordon Hayward for 'A Few Years'

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving has already verbally committed to re-signing this summer when he's a free agent. 

Irving apparently hopes Gordon Hayward will stick around as well. He told reporters Sunday that he hopes to continue developing chemistry with Hayward "not just this year, but a few years down the line.”

Hayward is under contract through the 2020-21 season. He'll make $32.7 million next season and has a $32.2 million player option for 2020-21, which he looks almost certain to take. 

Although he is under contract, it's fair to wonder if Hayward will be part of the long-term vision in Boston. He has struggled to regain his previous form since returning from a gruesome leg injury he suffered opening night of the 2017-18 campaign.

Brad Stevens began bringing Hayward off the bench in November, and the results have been promising. Hayward is averaging 12.1 points, 4.9 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 45.0 percent as a reserve. He was averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 38.4 percent shooting with the starting unit.

While some of Hayward's struggles were clearly him rounding back into shape, there's also a fit issue with him and Irving. Hayward is at his best when he's helping facilitate the ball in a more egalitarian system. Irving often breaks Stevens' offensive system for his own isolations and pick-and-rolls.

The point guard was Hayward's most vocal booster during his season's nadir, imploring him to be more aggressive. 

"I told him, 'Look for your shot more. Get aggressive and get yourself going because you are a great talent in this league and I don't want you to ever forget that,'" Irving told reporters in November. "Of course, he does a great job of coming off the pick-and-roll and making those passes, but I want him to be aggressive and score the basketball for us as well because we are going to need it down the stretch."

It's unclear if there are any plans to get Hayward back into the starting lineup, but the staggering approach seems to have worked thus far.