NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Gordon Hayward, Potential Kevin Love Trade and More
The NBA news cycle is rather dead now, as it always is in early September. But there is hope on the horizon. Training camps begin at the end of the month, which means lots of basketball news (and then actual basketball action) will be coming soon.
There have been some recent updates on a few notable players, however. Let's check in with the situations of Gordon Hayward, Kevin Love and Carl Landry.
Gordon Hayward
The Utah Jazz roster seems to be destined for great things, with several skilled, young players who fit together well. However, they'll soon have to start worrying about paying them all what they deserve.
Hayward is one of those guys, a 26-year-old small forward who is a multitalented fringe All-Star. He has a $16.7 million player option for the 2017-18 season, but the Salt Lake Tribune's Tony Jones said Hayward is expected to decline it and become a free agent next summer.
Hayward opting out of that deal is understandable. That $16.7 million he's slated to make in 2017-18 has him below the pay grades of Kent Bazemore ($16.9 million in that same season), Evan Turner ($17.1 million) and Allen Crabbe ($19.3 million)—three wings he's better than.
The Jazz should do everything in their power to retain Hayward, who is arguably their best player and someone who has no significant weaknesses. He'll definitely command a max contract on the open market. But they also have to worry about Rudy Gobert (a restricted free agent in 2017), Derrick Favors (unrestricted in 2018), and Dante Exum and Rodney Hood (both restricted in 2018), along with some other smaller pieces of their future.
Utah's future looks great now, but the extenuating circumstances of its players' contract situations is yet another reminder of the importance of money as it relates to the NBA's competitive balance.
Kevin Love
It would be understandable if the Cleveland Cavaliers were looking to trade Love this summer, even after winning the NBA championship. Despite the fact that Love has four years and nearly $93.5 million left on his contract, you can argue that he was as low as the fifth-most valuable player on the squad (following LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and possibly Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith) during the title run.
Now, Love's talent is obviously superior to that of Thompson and Smith, but there's still a question as to how his versatile scoring abilities and defensive shortcomings work with the rest of the roster.
According to the Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto, though, Love is not on the market. Pluto said: "Once again, there are some silly trade rumors. I've been told since the middle of last season the Cavs have no intention of trading Love. And the same is true after the title."
There is something to be said for chemistry. Trading a valuable starter immediately after defying all odds to win a title could upset the chemistry that helped win the championship. Since Love is also just two seasons removed from averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland could find a way to squeeze more of that star power out of Love in future seasons.
Carl Landry
It's a bit curious that Landry has had so much trouble sticking with an NBA team throughout his nine-year career. The 32-year-old power forward is on the lookout for a new home again after the Philadelphia 76ers waived him last week.
Considering Landry will command a modest contract, most teams with a few backup frontcourt minutes available would be wise to snatch him up. Per Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey, Landry's scoring and rebounding abilities helped him accomplish an impressive feat during the 2015-16 season:
Thankfully for the veteran big man, there are several teams interested. According to 1500 ESPN's Darren Wolfson, four squads in different situations have put out feelers for Landry:
None of those squads seem to be the best fit for Landry, but the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets make the most sense. Indiana has a glut of backup big men starting behind Thaddeus Young and Myles Turner, but only Al Jefferson has proved himself to be a good player. Jefferson next to Landry would be a poor defensive combination, but they could give opponents the business down low on the other end.
In Houston, Landry could have a homecoming with the team he started his career with in 2007. There should be some minutes available off the bench for him, though his defensive issues would add to the big problems on that side of the floor for the Rockets.
