Perhaps the prize of the 2017 free-agent class is Utah Jazz star forward Gordon Hayward. After he logged a career-best season, made his first All-Star team and led the Jazz to a division title and first-round playoff series win, Hayward is on several teams’ radar. According to multiple reports, he will meet with the Miami Heat on Saturday, and will talk with the Jazz come Monday and has a meeting with the Boston Celtics scheduled soon, too.
First, here’s ESPN.com’s report on Hayward’s scheduled date with the Heat:
Gordon Hayward will take his first free-agent meeting with the Miami Heat on Saturday, a source told ESPN’s Jorge Sedano. Hayward will then be traveling Sunday to meet Utah on Monday, with Boston coming after that.
An earlier version of this story stated that Hayward would meet with Boston on Sunday, then Utah on Monday.
Sources previously told ESPN the Jazz regard the Heat as no less a threat to lure Hayward away than the Celtics, whose interest in the former Butler star has been anticipated for some time, largely thanks to the presence of Hayward’s college coach, Brad Stevens, on Boston’s bench.
Jody Gennesy of the Deseret News confirms the Hayward meeting with the Jazz on Monday, as well:
All-Star forward Gordon Hayward will meet with the Utah Jazz on Monday to discuss his future, sources have confirmed to the Deseret News.
Hayward will opt out of the final year of his contract before free agency begins and will also meet with the Miami Heat — on Saturday, according to reports — and the Boston Celtics.
Re-signing Hayward is the top priority for the Jazz this offseason, so this weekend and Monday’s meeting have huge implications for the organization. To that point, Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey reiterated on Wednesday that trying to bring back the team’s incumbent free agents — namely Hayward and point guard George Hill — is precisely what the franchise hopes to do.
