Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward Will Opt Out (and All’s Well)
By Ryan Aston
A recent article in The Salt Lake Tribune has sparked speculation about Gordon Hayward’s future with the Utah Jazz, but nothing has really changed.
The internet rumor mill is a funny thing. One man’s logical assessment of a team’s cap situation is another man’s fuel for speculation about the comings and goings of that team’s star player. Such was the case this week when multiple stories about Gordon Hayward opting out of his contract with the Utah Jazz hit the blogosphere.
It all stems from an article written by Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune examining the financial decisions the Jazz will be faced with in the years ahead when players like Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood and Dante Exum reach the end of their current deals.
Specifically, it’s the following line that has people talking about Hayward’s future with the team–
"Hayward’s pending free agency is well-known. He’s expected to opt out of the final year of his contract next summer and cash in for max dollars, whether it be with the Jazz, or with another team."
Several hoops scribes have since jumped on Jones’ piece. Bleacher Report, Larry Brown Sports and even our sister site Sir Charles in Charge are just some of the spots reporting on Hayward’s impending decision to opt out and test the waters of free agency following the 2016-17 NBA season.
So, should Jazz fans now be fretting over Hayward’s contract situation with this story making the rounds on the ‘net?
Nah. Or at least no more than they were last week, or a month ago or at the conclusion of last season.
Despite the flurry of discussion about Hayward opting out, nothing on the subject has changed in recent days. Hayward is, was and always has been foregoing the final year of his deal with Utah, and it has nothing to do with his feelings about the Jazz organization. It’s simply a matter of dollars and cents.
Although Hayward would make nearly $17 million in his final contract year if he elected to opt in, he stands to make significantly more by seeking a new deal. As a player with 7-9 years of service in the league, Hayward would be in line for a starting salary in the neighborhood of $30 million by inking a new deal.
With that being the case, opting out is a no-brainer for Hayward. Our friend and B/R’s resident Jazz guru Andy Bailey put it best with the following tweet–
Gordon Hayward "expecting to opt out next summer" is not news.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) September 5, 2016
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Hayward expecting to opt out is not news. Nor should talk of it happening be cause for Jazz fans get all hot and bothered about facing life in a Post-Hayward world. Until he actually signs on the dotted line with another NBA team, every indication continues to point toward Hayward being in the fold long-term.
He and the organization are very comfortable with one another and given the team’s moves to improve the roster, the Jazz should be sufficiently competitive to keep their star in the fold. The team may have to make some tough financial calls, but it seems unlikely that Hayward would be the odd man out.
Rest easy Jazz fans. Gordon Hayward will opt out, but all’s well.
Probably.