NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the Denver Nuggets
1. Gordon Hayward
Assuming that Gordon Hayward declines his player option and chooses to enter free agency this summer, he is probably the best player on the market with a legit chance at changing teams. Given the interest that he will draw from teams that are more ready to contend for a championship than the Nuggets, landing him is extremely unlikely. Pursuing Hayward is worthwhile regardless, and getting him to take a meeting could represent a big step in the right direction for the franchise.
Hayward has improved in almost every year of his career. Last season he made his first All-Star team and received votes for Third Team All-NBA at the brutally competitive forward spot. He’s the kind of big name player that Denver has craved for years and at age 27 he would be well worth the max contract that he is going to demand this summer. Hayward falls within the seven-year experience bracket, so if chooses to leave Utah his max contract value would be a little over $127 million for four years.
In terms of on court fit, Hayward would be an ideal addition to the Nuggets. He’s a much better player than Chandler or Gallinari on both ends of the floor. Hayward has become a solid defender on the wing that can guard multiple positions, and he can play the kind of switchy defense that teams rely on so heavily in the playoffs. On the offensive side of the ball, Hayward would be Denver’s go-to scorer. In addition, the pass-happy Nuggets play at a much faster pace than the slowpoke Jazz, which would allow Hayward to attack more in transition and showcase his well-rounded offensive game.
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Acquiring Hayward is almost certainly a pipedream. Even so, Denver has many appealing qualities that it can offer. With a treasure trove of young assets, a cornerstone piece in Jokic and the ability to maintain some cap flexibility moving forward, the Nuggets have a chance (albeit a highly unlikely one) to put together a team with multiple stars in the future. Teams like Boston can make that same pitch to Hayward in the present. Even so, making an offer and feeling out Hayward’s interest can’t hurt.