National Basketball Association

NBA Rumors: Gordon Hayward To Test Free Agency Next Summer

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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NBA Rumors: The expectation is that Gordon Hayward will opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency next summer

While the Utah Jazz quickly quieted whispers of the potential for trading Gordon Hayward this summer, it appears that the rumors won’t quite stop. Not yet.

At least not until next summer when Hayward reportedly plans on opting out of the final year of his contract (after the 2016-17 season) in order to test free agency. And this should be shocking to absolutely no one.

According to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune, while there is definite excitement revolving around this version of the Utah Jazz, there’s also a pretty big summer coming up next year – one that will potential shape the franchise for years to come.

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[via Salt Lake Tribune]

Hayward’s pending free agency is well known. He’s expected to opt out of the final year of his contract next summer and cash in for max dollars, whether it be with the Jazz, or with another team.

Hayward will be looking for a max contract, and if the Jazz aren’t going to be willing to pay him he’ll definitely be able to find it somewhere else.

Whether it be with his former coach Brad Stevens in Boston or with a desperate Pat Riley in Miami, there’s going to be a huge market for a player of Hayward’s caliber.

The problem for the Jazz is that along with Hayward hitting free agency next summer, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Dante Exum also are set to become free agents over the next couple of seasons. As Jones notes, most of them will be in line for big money, too.

In other words, the Utah Jazz might have to make some difficult decisions over the next few years – one of them being whether or not Hayward is their guy. And that has to be decided fairly soon.

During the last two seasons of his career, Hayward has really blossomed as an NBA player. This past season, he averaged a career-high 20 points per game, five rebounds and three assists. He also shot 35 percent from three-point range.

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