NEW ORLEANS — There is no question Utah’s Gordon Hayward will be on the Celtics’ radar if he chooses to become a free agent this summer. But as he prepared for his first NBA All-Star Game experience last night, the sharpshooter was leaving that matter to the future.

“I think you handle it by not really worrying about it, to be honest,” said Hayward, who was, of course, playing against his old Butler coach, the C’s Brad Stevens, in this one. “For me, I’m focused on the Jazz and what we’re doing and trying to win basketball games.

“Ultimately, if you focus on that, it’ll help you out in free agency more than anything. So you can’t be worried about it. That’s why I hire an agent, to deal with that type of stuff.”

To become a free agent, Hayward would have to forego his $16.7 million option for next season. To move to another team, he would have to pass on the greater money and years the Jazz will be able to offer. (Collective bargaining rules, particularly the ones just ratified, are designed to keep star players with their teams.)

Certainly Hayward has already been courted by fans of opposing teams, if not the clubs themselves. He received a good ovation when introduced with the Utah starting lineup in Boston in January, and he then got a taste of the crowd’s loyalty to the Celts when his subsequent made jumpers were not received so well.

He has found the situation a bit odd.

“It does feel strange,” said Hayward, who had eight points in the West’s 192-182 victory. “It’s weird. You know, you get fans tweeting at you throughout the year, telling you to come to their city — different things like that. But that’s not something you can worry about.”

Not yet, anyway.

Blockbuster trade

With there being no real competitiveness to the game, the only real drama last night surrounded rumors — and then execution — of a trade involving Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, who played just 2:27 for the West.

As first reported by The Vertical, Cousins is being dealt to the Pelicans for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and two draft picks.

The Herald reported on Twitter earlier in the evening that a league executive had been told by someone involved that the Celtics were not one of the teams vying for Cousins.

With the NBA trade deadline coming this Thursday, Isaiah Thomas was asked if the Celtics need to make a deal.

“I mean, we’re playing at a good level right now with not making any moves, but like I always say, I can’t worry about that,” he said. “But I know if we do make a move it’s for the betterment of this team and the direction we’re going in. But, you know, we’ll see.”

Asked if he and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had talked about any former teammates (Thomas played with Cousins in Sacramento), he said, “No, I haven’t. If he needs anything, he usually calls me or asks for my two cents, but he probably just wanted me to enjoy this weekend.”

Honor the headband

Paul Pierce didn’t make the West All-Star team in his final season, but he’s been here for the events. And he’s had an impact on at least one of the players in the game.

“Oh, man, Paul Pierce is the reason I started wearing a headband,” Cousins said. “I mean, what he’s done for the game, his proof is in the pudding. Me saying anything about it is just another comment. His legacy, what he’s done for the game. . . . The biggest thing about him I enjoyed was his competitive nature. No matter who it was in front of him, he was trying to take their head off. You’ve just got to appreciate a player like that.”

Rest conundrum

The NBA is not happy with the practice of letting star players take off games to rest. Though commissioner Adam Silver recognizes that’s within a team’s rights, he has been trying to find ways to reduce the appeal.

“In fact, yes, that’s why we’re adding the extra week to the season,” Silver said. “So everyone understands, we’ve reduced, in essence, our preseason. We’ve reduced the number of games we’ll play in the preseason and added a full week to the regular season.

“Every day makes a big difference in creating the schedule. That extra week in our schedule will enable us to cut down on the back-to-backs, cut down on the number of times that our teams are obligated to play four games in five nights, and it will enable the coaches to provide additional rest for their players. So we do hope it will cut down on the resting of players in marquee games.

“But we also have to be realistic that the science has gotten to the point where there is that direct correlation that we’re aware of between fatigue and injuries. And as tough as it is on our fans to miss one of their favorite players for a game, it’s far better than having them get injured and be out for long periods of time. So we’re always still looking to strike that right balance.”