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As the Bobcats, Charlotte's NBA team made the playoffs last season and as the transition to the Hornets takes place, owner Michael Jordan is looking to build off of last season's success by improving the roster.
In their first major move as the Hornets, Charlotte has extended an offer out to Utah Jazz forward and restricted free agent Gordon Hayward. The offer? As reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer the deal that the two sides have agreed upon is a $63 million deal over four years.
But not so fast; despite the steep price (and despite not being close to competing for a spot in the playoffs) the Utah Jazz are expected to match the offer, keeping Hayward in Utah, says Jazz beat writer Jody Genessy and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Again, Gordon Hayward agreeing to max deal w/ Hornets is a "non-issue for the Jazz," per person w/ knowledge of situation. Utah will match.</p>— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) <a href="https://twitter.com/DJJazzyJody/statuses/486897028786839553">July 9, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jazz prepared for possibility of max sheet for Hayward and remain unwavering about revelation it's coming: They plan to match and keep him.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/486744764675420161">July 9, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Woj also says that Hayward's agent discussed deals for an offer sheet with Cleveland, Boston and Phoenix.
In his fourth year in the league, the 24-year-old averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per-game in 77 starts for a struggling Utah team that went 25-57. The per-game stats were all career-high's for Hayward, but one stat that fell tremendously was his three-point shooting. Just a season ago, he shot over 40 percent from behind the arc, but this season, with a bigger role, he shot just .304.
But again, Hayward is only 24. Perhaps it was a dip year for his three-point numbers, at least that's what the Hornets and Jazz are hoping for.
His career stats:
|
Season |
Age |
Tm |
G |
GS |
MP |
FG% |
3P% |
2P% |
FT% |
TRB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TOV |
PF |
PTS |
|
2010-11 |
20 |
UTA |
72 |
17 |
16.9 |
.485 |
.473 |
.489 |
.711 |
1.9 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
5.4 |
|
2011-12 |
21 |
UTA |
66 |
58 |
30.5 |
.456 |
.346 |
.496 |
.832 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
11.8 |
|
2012-13 |
22 |
UTA |
72 |
27 |
29.2 |
.435 |
.415 |
.444 |
.827 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
14.1 |
|
2013-14 |
23 |
UTA |
77 |
77 |
36.4 |
.413 |
.304 |
.453 |
.816 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
1.4 |
0.5 |
2.8 |
2.0 |
16.2 |
|
Career |
287 |
179 |
28.4 |
.436 |
.365 |
.464 |
.813 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
12.0 |
In Charlotte, Hayward gets a chance to play on a playoff team, reunite with former Jazz center Al Jefferson and also gets a chance to share the floor with a dynamic young point guard in Kemba Walker; he also gives the team the perimeter scorer that they have desperately needed.
In Utah, he can continue to be a part of a growing project while catching passes from young guards Trey Burke and 2014 first round pick Dante Exum.
Hayward is a dynamic scorer and at his young still has room and time to improve even more; but it's time for him to get paid.
The only question now is, will Charlotte sign his checks, or will Utah? The ball is in the Jazz's court and they have until July 13 to make a decision.
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For more on Hayward, the Jazz and the Hornets visit SB Nation's SLC Dunk and At The Hive.