Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat await Hayward decision
Free agent forward took last meeting with Jazz
ORLANDO — The coasts have been flipped, with the issue now whether the Utah Jazz can keep free-agent forward Gordon Hayward from flipping allegiances.
After meetings hosted by the Miami Heat on Saturday and the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the free-agent forward shifted the process to his San Diego home for a Monday session expected to conclude his interviews. ESPN reported Monday’s session with the Jazz lasted 3 1⁄2 hours.
The timing puts Hayward on the same schedule as Kevin Durant a year ago, when the then-Oklahoma City Thunder forward completed his interviews, including one with the Heat, on July 3 and then made a July 4 announcement that he was joining the Golden State Warriors.
Neither the Heat nor the Celtics commented on their sessions with Hayward, who also has remained mum on those sessions.
Most of the top-tier free agents have already made their free-agent commitments, with Durant re-upping Monday with Golden State, Blake Griffin remaining with the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul Millsap moving on to the Denver Nuggets, the Toronto Raptors retaining Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, and Stephen Curry agreeing with the Warriors on the largest contract in NBA history.
That leaves Hayward at the top of the remaining class, with the best of the remaining free-agency lot including Danilo Gallinari, Otto Porter, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nerlens Noel,
“It’s another fit with a big three.”
Rudy Gay and Derrick Rose, players well below Hayward’s All-Star status.
Free-agency negotiations began Saturday, with signings not allowed until Thursday at noon.
Last year, after losing out on Durant, the Heat pivoted to the signings of Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Luke Babbitt, Wayne Ellington and Willie Reed. All or some of those players could be fallback options this year, as well.
For the Celtics, a loss of Hayward, after missing out on trade opportunities for Jimmy Butler and Paul George this offseason, could leave their roster mostly static.
As for the Jazz, the loss of Hayward would likely lead to a precipitous tumble in a Western Conference that has been bolstered by Millsap’s shift to the Nuggets, Butler’s move to the Minnesota Timberwolves and George’s trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Boston Globe quoted an unidentified NBA source saying the Celtics’ meeting, “felt like the communication was excellent and the case was made for Gordon being a great fit.”
The Jazz’s contingent in San Diego not only included general manager Dennis Lindsey, coach Quin Snyder and Jazz president Steve Starks, but also Jazz players Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles and Ricky Rubio, according to ESPN. Isaiah Thomas was among those at the Celtics’ meeting with Hayward, with the Heat meeting featuring Hassan Whiteside, Udonis Haslem, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and James Johnson.
The Jazz moved ahead of that meeting with a trade for the Timberwolves’ Rubio and by resigning Ingles.
The Heat and Celtics have yet to move in free agency, with Boston in the interim losing free-agent forward Amir Johnson to the Philadelphia 76ers.
By rule, the most the Heat or Celtics, as outside teams, are allowed to offer Hayward is a four-year contract worth $127.8 million. The Jazz, as Hayward’s incumbent team, can offer a maximum of $172.4 million over five years. However, if Hayward moves for a threeyear deal to protect his ability to then move into the NBA’s highest-tenure pay bracket, the difference between offers by the teams would be negligible.
Of potential Hayward chemistry with the Heat, ESPN analyst and former NBA executive Tom Penn said Monday, “It’s another fit with a big three,” when counting Whiteside and point guard Goran Dragic.
Penn warned not to dismiss the impact of Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra.
“They are so proven in what they do,” he said, “and you’ve got a pair of the best proven leaders in the game.”
He then joked about the weather and lack of state income tax in Florida.
“It’s just a wonderful place to be,” he said.