NBA Rumors: Latest on Possible Gordon Hayward Trade, Rudy Gay and More
Just when you think the Gordon Hayward trade saga ended with a drawn-out decision to sign with the Boston Celtics, think again. Now, he's involved in a potential trade scenario that could help the Utah Jazz rebuild their starting lineup.
After Gordon's drama-filled free-agency leak, which turned out to become an accurate report from ESPN.com reporter Chris Haynes, agreements and deals kept rolling in on July 4.
This seems like the year for impactful sign-and-trade deals. The Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks agreed to the latest transaction of the sort, which sends Danilo Gallinari to the Clippers and Jamal Crawford as well as Diamond Stone to the Hawks, per ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski:
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Dion Waiters signed the biggest deal on Wednesday, worth $52 million over four years with the Miami Heat, per Wojnarowski:
Wojnarowski also reported the Golden State Warriors added swag to their bench, utilizing the mid-level exception on Nick Young for a one-year, $5.2 million deal:
On Thursday, teams can finalize agreements at noon ET. What's the latest free-agency buzz surrounding the top names on the market?
Utah Jazz Push for Gordon Hayward Trade?
There's a strange plot twist to Gordon going to the Celtics that will help his former team. According to Salt Lake Tribune reporters Tony Jones and Aaron Falk, the coveted forward and his agent will assist in aiding the Jazz with a sign-and-trade deal:
"League sources told The Tribune that Hayward and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, have agreed to help facilitate a sign-and-trade. Utah would sign Hayward to a new max deal, then send him to Boston in exchange for Crowder, who has just short of three years and $22 million remaining on his contract."
The proposed transaction gives the Jazz a decent starter on a modest contract. Jae Crowder won't produce comparable numbers to Hayward in the scoring column, but he's a top-notch 3-and-D type player in the league. The sixth-year forward has also shown steady progress in development since entering the starting lineup in Boston.
The move wouldn't completely compensate for Hayward's loss, but it's better to exchange an All-Star for a lesser player than losing the top asset on the roster for nothing. There's no way to piece together scorched jerseys, but the 27-year-old forward still maintains good intentions for his former organization while walking out of the door.
Miami Heat Focus on Rudy Gay?
The Heat missed out on Hayward, which calls for plan B. Team president Pat Riley will turn his attention to cheaper non-All Star alternatives to bolster the roster. As mentioned above, Miami re-signed Waiters, who finished the previous season strong with the club.
According to Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson, the Heat will likely set their sights on Rudy Gay. Patrick Patterson would've been the other target, but he agreed to a three-year, $16.4 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, per Wojnarowski.
A Waiters-Gay combination would amount to greater offensive firepower than Hayward alone. However, the 30-year-old forward wants a lucrative contract.
He hesitated on an agreement with the Thunder due to a sizable gap in compensation, per ESPN.com reporter Royce Young:
The Heat have Justise Winslow at small forward and may re-sign James Johnson, who plays the same position. Miami doesn't need Gay at the 3 spot, but he's certainly an option.
Washington Wizards Intend to Match Offer for Otto Porter Jr.
The third-best player on the Washington Wizards may sign a max deal as a restricted free agent on the market. The Brooklyn Nets will send a four-year, $106.5 million max offer sheet to Otto Porter Jr., but he's not likely to change jerseys for the upcoming season, per Washington Post reporter Tim Bontemps.
"And the Wizards would then have until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to match the offer and retain Porter's services," Bontemps said. "If Washington chooses to match the offer—something several sources reiterated Tuesday that the Wizards have every intention of doing—he would not go to Brooklyn."
It's debatable whether Porter deserves all that cash, but that's how the market works for restricted free agents. It only takes one team to push all their chips to the center of the table to force the original club's hand.
Porter would bring a significant boost to the Nets' rebuilding roster under head coach Kenny Atkinson. The fifth-year player out of Georgetown improved his game across the board from scoring to a shooting percentage above 50 percent.
However, it's a tough sell for the Wizards. Last year, Bradley Beal signed a five-year, $127.1 million deal, and the team used the designated player exception to offer a four-year, $170 million extension to John Wall, per ESPN.com reporter Brian Windhorst.
Wall hasn't accepted the deal, but the Wizards would have three high-priced assets if the point guard eventually signs the extension. With that type of investment, Washington should place higher than No. 4 in the Eastern Conference.
Right now, they're still perceived as a team on the cusp of contending as opposed to a potential representative for the East in the NBA Finals. Though, Porter's continued development could add the boost needed to push this team into the discussion in the near future.
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