Utah Jazz forward Hayward declines player option

is officially a free agent.

The Utah Jazz forward has declined the player-option final year on his contract as expected and will now test the market as an unrestricted free agent, said a person with knowledge of the situation.

Hayward, a seven-year veteran, is one of the marquee names available this offseason and will likely command a max deal.

The Jazz have made it clear that resigning Hayward is the No. 1 priority for the offseason, and his departure would be an enormous blow to the recent progression of the franchise. The Celtics are widely considered his top pursuer with Hayward’s college coach

at the helm. The ability to win will be one of the key factors for Hayward and the Celtics are coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference finals as the No.

1 playoff seed in the East.

Pelicans set to meet with Holiday

Guard and the New Orleans Pelicans have scheduled a meeting for midnight Friday when for gender hiring practices for the 2016-17 season. The NBA drew an overall grade of A-minus, continuing its run of A grades since the start of the 2000s.

The report card was released Thursday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

writes the report. The NBA sets the pace, with people of color making up 30 percent of the head coaches and 45 percent of the assistants. The NBA is also the first major sports league to have three owners of color.

The league, however, did receive an F for race representation this season at the levels of team president/ CEO and general manager. There are just four people of color at the top tier of team management and three general managers of color.

FROM WIRE REPORTS