After averaging 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game with the Utah Jazz last season highlighted by an impressive career-high 37 points in a win against the Thunder on January, it was clear that Gordon Daniel Hayward was ready for a huge contract as he enters the final year of his deal with the Jazz.
Wat was not expected, however, was that the 24 year old swingman would get a max contract. And the unexpected apparently happened as Hayward received a max contract offer but not from that Jazz but from another team, the New Orleans Hornets. Here is what Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported:
"Hornets has agreed to a 4-year, $63M maximum offer sheet with Utah RFA Gordon Hayward, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Hornets offer sheet for Gordon Hayward expected to include player option on fourth year, and a trade kicker."
The Jazz, however, apparently saw this coming and were prepared for such an offer from another team that would try to steal the dynamic forward away from Salt Lake City. They remain unwavering in their stance and that is to match any offer whether its a max contract and keep Hayward for the foreseeable future.
If Utah matches the offer, they will be unable to trade Hayward without his consent for an entire season and they won't also be able to trade him to the Hornets within that time frame. This rule in addition to Hayward's player option in the final year and trade kicker makes him very difficult to move. Utah mus really want him bad if they are planning to match such an offer sheet.
The Utah Jazz's rising small forward will not be able to sign until Thursday and all signs are pointing that New Orleans and Utah will discuss a sign-and-trade beforehand. By agreeing to a max contact offer sheet with Hayward, the Hornets provide themselves some form of leverage. Perhaps Utah will figure a sign-and-trade deal that is much beneficial to the team than overpaying Hayward by matching the Hornet's offer. The Jazz have less done 2 days to sort all the possibilities but once Hayward officially signs on Thursday, a sign-and-trade will no longer be an option for the team.
But the Jazz have plenty of money so they can simply match the offer sheet if they run out of advantageous sign-and-trade scenarios. Keeping Hayward locked in for 4 years also benefits the team both in the short-term and long-term. But this week, we will know for sure on whether Hayward will be playing for the Jazz or Hornets next season.
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