With free agency only a month away, the Utah Jazz will focus their efforts on retaining All-Star Gordon Hayward and extending him to a long-term deal. Many possibilities await him with teams like the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics considering his potential addition to their respective teams.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the decision is a close one that favors the Jazz.
“I've been told it's 60-40 right now…60 stays, 40 leaves…that's not a fun equation,” Kyler said.
A landing spot for Hayward would greatly impact what Utah does with the rest of the team's impending free agents like George Hill and other potential offseason signings.
“He'd love to come back, and they'd love to have him back,” Kyler said of Hill, adding that the contract range would depend on whether Hayward stays or goes.
A first time All-Star in 2017, Hayward had his best year as a pro despite starting the season on the shelf with an injury, quickly bouncing back upon his return and averaging 21.9 points per game through 73 starts this season. The Butler standout also shot 47.1 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from deep, and a sparkling 84.4 percent from the stripe — making him an all-around threat on the floor.
The fifth-seeded Jazz managed to get past the L.A. Clippers through seven games in the first round, before running into the buzzsaw that has been the Golden State Warriors, still holding an undefeated run at 14-0.
Many campaign efforts have been put forward, most notoriously the #Stayward campaign which has placed as many as eight huge billboards around I-15 in hopes of having the small forward stay.
The Celtics are the strongest candidates to pull the 6-foot-8 forward away from Salt Lake City, considering a potential reunion with his college coach, Brad Stevens.
Utah can offer Gordon Hayward as much as a five-year, $177 million deal, while the most that other teams can dole out is $132 million over four years.
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