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Boston • For much of the season, the groundswell of banter, the proverbial Elephant in the room if you will, has revolved around Gordon Hayward's impending free agency.

And with the Utah Jazz in Boston to face the Celtics, that groundswell boiled over the top in the form of questioning.

Of course, it makes sense on paper to ask Boston coach Brad Stevens about Hayward, and vice versa. Hayward played for Stevens at Butler and the two almost won a national championship. So with Hayward on the road to free agency, and with the Celtics having a need for a scoring small forward, that was naturally a topic of conversation.

Stevens, however, didn't exactly take the bait.

"I don't get into that stuff," Stevens said. "It's not appropriate and you have to respect other teams. I will say this. He's come a long way since being the skinny tennis player that I used to know."

Hayward has enjoyed his best season. He's scoring 22.4 points a night. He's averaging six rebounds and almost four assists a night as well.

More importantly, he's taken on the mantle of team leader, and has done much of his work without having starting point guard George Hill in the lineup.

The Celtics, according to numerous reports, have had free agency eyes on Hayward for almost two seasons. And that means the questions flow whenever the Jazz and the Celtics cross paths.

"I think he's been an elite player this season," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "The game has really slowed down for him."

Omissions

Hill missed a second consecutive game on Tuesday night, due to concussion-like symptoms. He is not expected to be out of the lineup long-term. He was originally injured on Saturday night in a win over the Phoenix Suns, when he took an elbow from Alex Len. Hill received 22 stitches as a result. Point guard Dante Exum, who has been out with tendinitis, will be evaluated on Wednesday. He could potentially play on Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors, if all goes well.

At an elite level

Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas averaged 30.3 points a game over December. Boston went 9-3 with Thomas over the course of the month. Thomas is averaging 27.7 points a night this season.

Tjones@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribjazz