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Hayward, ghostwriter wrote blog posts for each potential destination

Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

How close was Gordon Hayward to returning to the Utah Jazz? Well, an announcement that trumpeted his return to Salt Lake City was 90 percent written, according to his agent.

The former Jazz star and his ghostwriter penned three different pieces for The Players' Tribune ahead of his free-agency decision, Mark Bartelstein confirmed Wednesday to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News. One post would have announced his return to Utah, while the others were to announce his signing with the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat.

Much confusion ensued Wednesday when his departure from Utah was reported hours before his official announcement, then subsequently refuted by Bartelstein before Hayward published one of the three pieces - thanking Jazz fans, but informing the world of his decision to head to Boston.

Hayward has reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year, $128-million contract with the Celtics.

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