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5 reasons why Gordon Hayward should re-sign with the Utah Jazz

By Adam Coffman

Apr 30, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton (2) defends Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as he drives to the basket in the second period of game seven of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton (2) defends Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) as he drives to the basket in the second period of game seven of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder talks with forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder talks with forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Finances

Disregarding the on-court situation entirely, the Jazz present the best financial situation for Hayward to remain in, being that they can offer him the most money no matter what route he takes with the process.

If he truly wants to make the most money possible, the best option would be to first make one of the three All-NBA teams for this season, which will be announced in late June. He would then need to forgo free agency and opt-in to his current contract at $16.7 million for next season, or agree to terms on a one-year deal with the Jazz.

This would make him, with eight years of experience, eligible for the newly implemented Designated Veteran Extension. This contract is worth 35 percent of a team’s current cap space, and would make Hayward a very wealthy man, as The Sporting News lays out.

"(The DVE) would set him up to earn about $235 million in the next six years. Hayward would be taking a risk by giving up money in the short term (or he could risk a new, one-year deal with the Jazz), but he would be rewarded with a significant pay bump the following year if he can cinch a spot on the All-NBA team. He can only earn that bump, though, if he stays with Utah."

That last part is key — short of a sign-and-trade Hayward can’t get the special extension anywhere else he would wind up, no matter that team’s cap situation, which gives an inherent advantage to Utah.

Even if Hayward doesn’t want to wait a year to get a longer-term deal, the Jazz can still offer him the most money. Other teams can offer him a maximum of four years and $132 million, but Utah could pony up five years and $180 million.

The money isn’t that different per year, but the extra year of financial security by the age of 32 could be appealing to Hayward, especially as the salary cap is projected to slow in terms of its current explosive growth.

There are obviously more factors at play, but in terms of money, Utah is by far the most lucrative situation for Hayward to be in. This is by design, as the NBA wants smaller-market teams to be able to keep their high-priced free agents.

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