Report: Gordon Hayward off the trade table for Utah Jazz
Utah's keeping its talented forward, reportedly.
By
Matt Moore
•
1 min read
The Boston Celtics are trying to move the No. 3 pick urgently, according to multiple outlets. They've been pursuing Jahlil Okafor, Jimmy Butler, and other big-name players given that they don't need another rookie and don't need another guard with their having approximately 700 of them.
One interesting name popped up Tuesday that Boston has pursued, but is having no luck with, and that's Utah Jazz near-All-Star Gordon Hayward. From ESPN:
Sources say the Celtics are one of just a number of teams trying to convince Utah to surrender Hayward -- Phoenix, which holds two lottery picks (No. 4 and 13) in Thursday's draft, is another -- but the Jazz have been telling interested teams that he is not available.
Source: Boston Celtics rebuffed in bid to swap No. 3 draft pick for established veteran.
Hayward of course played under Brad Stevens at Butler and has very quietly been phenomenal the past two seasons. Check out how Hayward's numbers stack up among players who average 30 minutes a game when you examine them per 100 possessions which factors for Utah's glacial pace structure:
Hayward is also set to be a free agent next summer with a player option for the following season, fueling speculation that the Jazz may be willing to trade either Hayward or veteran forward Derrick Favors in exchange for more future assets.
A move away from that in keeping Hayward probably increases speculation about Favors, remarkably, but it also shows that the Jazz recognize how great Hayward has been on both sides of the floor for a team that is clearly headed in the right direction despite missing the playoffs again this season.
Of course, this could just be a smokescreen to further the interest in Gordon. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened, though the Jazz almost never participate in such hijinx.
If Hayward is off the market, that's one less target for teams looking to trade their picks to make a splash in Thursday's draft to turn to.
