Apparently the Boston Celtics aren’t the only team that poses a serious threat to poaching Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz.
The Miami Heat have joined the party as well.
In the aftermath of the Golden State Warriors’ latest title, ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe talked about how the rest of the NBA will respond. Though the jury is still out on what we’ll exactly see this offseason, he did note that at least one fringe-rebuilding team isn’t planning on taking a backseat to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ and Warriors’ reigns:
Other rivals will need to hit home runs on those trades, or preserve cap space for long-shot runs at stars in free agency. Miami is loading up now to pursue Gordon Hayward, according to league sources.
So much for Heat president Pat Riley focusing on his own players, right?
Hayward would be a fantastic fit in Miami, particularly if the team is able to also squeeze in James Johnson’s new deal. Hayward fits everything the Heat value—someone who can play off the ball on offense while orchestrating pick-and-rolls and fast breaks when called upon, and whose defensive effort isn’t directly tied to his performance at the other end of the floor.
Playing beside Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson, Justise Winslow, Rodney McGruder and Josh Richardson should appeal to him, but Hayward will no doubt take into account that he’d be leaving a 51-win team. If he’s going to flee Utah, it should be for an upgraded situation. And Boston, with its talented core and deep well of picks, still projects as a better landing spot.
Maybe Miami gets a meeting, but Hayward’s free agency continues to feel like a two-team affair.
