Fansided

NBA Schedule 2017-18: 5 games with the most revenge potential

By Philip Rossman-Reich

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 06: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Thunder 93-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 06: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Thunder 93-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 29: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball against Jae Crowder #99 of the Boston Celtics on February 29, 2016 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

March 28: Boston Celtics @ Utah Jazz

There were a lot of surprising offseason moves this summer. One of the most surprising was Gordon Hayward’s departure from the Utah Jazz. Yes, he was leaving to play in a bigger market with his former college coach but the Jazz earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference and had a nice young core to build from. Leaving them seemed a bit odd.

And so the Utah Jazz and their fans rightfully should be upset. They did everything they could to keep Hayward. They gave him every reason to stay. They were comparable to every team Hayward considered. Hayward’s departure from Utah can be seen then as a rejection of Salt Lake City. What 20-something year old would rather live in Salt Lake City over Boston or Miami?

There is more nuance to this, however.

Reports came out the Jazz were increasingly worried the way they handled his restricted free agency was coming back to bite them. Hayward signed a max offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets in 2015. The Jazz matched it. The marriage seemed stable, but apparently some feelings still simmered. Let that be a lesson to teams: take care of your guys.

Hayward probably will want to play well against his former team. But this game will be all about how the Jazz — Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood especially — and their fans react. Will Jazz fans come down hard on their former player? Will they welcome him back?

Next: Nylon Calculus: 2017-18 NBA Schedule breakdown

And will Hayward be nice to them or will he look to put the hurt on his former team?

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