NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Utah Jazz

1. Retain Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward has established himself as a star in the NBA, there’s no doubt about it. Hayward, 27, can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining his modest player option. He
averaged 21.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game during the regular season. Hayward was also able to show he belonged amongst the NBA elite during the Jazz postseason upping his scoring average to 24.1 during that run.

Hayward will likely seek a max extension this summer and rightfully so. Any team giving Hayward the max will have to forfeit 30 percent of the team’s salary cap space to sign him. There’s also a small and unlikely chance he makes the All-NBA team which would up his max value to 35 percent of the cap. As silly as it sounds giving Hayward the money is the easy part, convincing him to stay is the real task at hand.

The Celtics figure to be one of the main competitors. Brad Stevens could be one of the main attractions for Hayward to consider as Stevens coached him during his collegiate days at Butler. Taking Butler to two consecutive Final Fours is nothing to be taken lightly, and Stevens is regarded as a brilliant head coach. Hayward might seriously consider Boston especially after being humiliated by the Warriors in the playoffs. The potential of playing with his former college coach and joining a roster that clinched the top seed in the Eastern conference is going to be tough to say no to.

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The good news for the Jazz is Hayward would be leaving a substantial amount of money on the table if he decided to depart from Utah. Leaving $45 million on the table is easier said than done, especially considering the bright future Utah has. Keeping Gordon Hayward will make or break the Jazz offseason.