Free Agency Rumor: Gordon Hayward Leaving Utah Jazz After Playoffs?

With the regular season ending, focus on Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward’s free agency is increasing as is the discouraging speculation.

The question that has haunted the Utah Jazz fan base all season long is rearing its ugly head. It has been a challenge to fully enjoy the journey to 50(ish) wins with the free agency of Gordon Hayward coming so quickly.

There have been rumors all year that Hayward would leave for “greener” pastures (see what I did there?) 5 months ago I wrote about Ryen Russillo reporting that “for months people have been saying he wouldn’t come back”.

More recently there have been rumors Heating up (sorry, I’ll stop) as Hayward continues to play well and show the caliber of player he is. The better he plays the more rumors will circulate that he will sign with team X.

I’ve been on the side of the fence that as long as Utah continues to win and is in the 4-5 spot in the West that he would stay. In response to the argument that he wants to return to Brad Stevens, I say that Quin Snyder has coached him longer than Stevens did at Butler.

And ultimately the biggest asset to keep Hayward in Utah isn’t the longer contract. It’s Rudy Gobert. He has the unique ability to make Hayward’s life so much easier as the number 1 option for a team. The talent around this Utah team is a perfect set-up for future success.

Boston, in comparison, is in a constant state of flux. They have so many options that no one knows what they will look like in a year. Options are great, but indecision is crippling. How much of their roster is back next year? It’s great to have faith in a front office and Stevens but would Hayward jump ship without knowing who he was going to play with?

But, I don’t have league sources and don’t have any idea what conversations are really happening.

However I did listen to a podcast today with people who do have those contacts, and it should be concerning for anyone hoping Hayward stays in SLC.

On Monday’s TrueHoop podcast, Amin Elhassan, Big Wos, and Black Trey discuss Hayward’s future. For a little background info on these guys, Amin Elhassan is a former scout and was part of the Phoenix Suns front office during the Nash-D’Antoni years. He is currently an NBA insider. Black Trey was a standout college player who is friends with NBA players and Rich Paul. No one knows what Big Wos does.

"Big Wos: When you have a bunch of good players, you guys come out and play well in the playoffs, Gordon is going to look at his options and be like “you know what I like it here. I think our team is growing. I think we have a chance to compete. They are offering me the max money…”Amin: That’s whats going to get him to stay. A billboard is not going to (help)…"

Then they talk about nonsense for several minutes, entertaining if you’re a fan but go ahead and skip it.

"Amin: By the way, let me ask you a question. Do you think he will stay or not?Black Trey: I think he bails.Big Wos: If they offer him the 5 years and they get to the second round this year I don’t see why he would leave.Black Trey: Wos, he’s out of there. I’m telling you right now.Amin: Let me say this in the most ambiguous way I can say it, because you know, some people don’t like you breaking news on a podcast unless you have so-and-so being able to verify or whatever, but I’ll just say it like this. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone.Big Wos: Ok.Amin: I’ll just say it, I wouldn’t be surprised.Big Wos: I mean, he’s definitely going to take a bunch of meetings, right. Like, we know that. He’s definitely interested in doing it.Amin: I think, MAYBE, there is some meetings that, MAYBE, now this is just my opinion I don’t have any information…"

*EDIT: If you don’t listen to the pod you might miss the radio voice Amin changes into when he’s saying it’s only his opinion. It implies he is only saying that to stay out of trouble.

"Big Wos: You think meetings have probably already taken place.Amin: Perhaps… This is me just extrapolating, this is me just trying to think about the next step. This is not me news breaking.Black Trey: Well I don’t work for ESPN and he gone…"

I’ve been pretty solid on Hayward staying through this season. But as the LA Clippers are rounding into form and Utah again is injured, I’m starting to fear a lopsided playoff loss pushing Hayward to think he can’t do what he wants to accomplish in SLC.

Amin certainty implies that he knows more than he’s allowed to say. He isn’t someone to throw around ideas that are his own concoction and does have connections in the current NBA. Black Trey is also someone who has connections and could possibly know something.

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It could also be that people expect All-NBA caliber players to play in certain markets. Salt Lake City isn’t considered one of those markets. I can understand people expecting Hayward to leave based on the current trend of teams stockpiling All-Stars. How much of this is based in fact? And how much of this is based in assumptions?

No one knows. I do know that anyone saying they know anything didn’t hear it from Utah. The team is notoriously silent about their plans and Hayward isn’t talking to anyone about his free agency. He truly seems completely invested in the team and winning.

Not to mention, I also can’t let this sincere reaction below go unnoticed to anyone claiming, “He gone”.

Gordon Hayward’s impending free agency could very well make or break the Jazz’s future. While there’s been plenty of evidence seeming to indicate that he will stay, this latest TrueHoop podcast is more than a little alarming.

Thus only time will tell what the future holds for Utah’s All-Star and the franchise as a whole.