So I'm listening to Hayward's exit interview. It would be very easy for him to say something present tense like, "I love playing in Utah. I'd love to come back." He's talking as though he's completed a chapter with Utah and he's "...looking forward to what's next."
I get the sense that he's excited about his future, but he's not saying anything that sounds like he's committed to Utah.
The one exception is at the very end where he says he's "looking forward to coming back better next year ready to go." That at least includes the phrase "coming back."
I certainly noticed that and I'm not really sure what to make of it. I know going into a negotiating period you don't want to show any of your cards, but the way he phrased everything was certainly interesting.
From a couple different angles I could see different things that may or may not signal any intent. A year ago I was looking to secure a job back home. I'm in a field where there's a very high demand for what I do and very few people to do it. There's a place that, prior to interviewing, I was nearly certain I was going to take the position offered. When I went out to interview I tried to play it really low key and not tip my hand. They even indicated indirectly some of their uncertainties of being able to land my commitment, which I didn't bite to correct. Anyway, I took the position and my neutrality during the process did not convey how set on that decision I already was.
On the flip side, there's a place I've been working at once a month down here for the past two years that has been courting me to come on. I really liked it. We weren't certain how long we would stick around in this area but, if we did, was certainly going to be there. I certainly kept those doors opened and mentioned how much I liked it and all the good things (all true), even when it started to become apparent that it was no longer feasible for us to stay here. It was hard to eventually tell them that we wouldn't be around but it made it a hell of a lot easier telling them such because of circumstances completely outside of work. So, o could just as easily see this component of it.
Or, maybe he legitimately hasn't given it deep thought but just superficially considered other options but hasn't really nailed down what a future at other places would look like (factoring in things such as Horford getting older, Thomas being a free agent in a year, etc.). You know, all those things we as fans have dissected and broken apart in tons of detail because we have nothing better to do.
Anyway, I really think only Boston has a chance. There may be a lot of reasons to consider that but I'm biased and I'd favor staying here where your superstar next to you complements you and doesn't compete with you. And what better story than to help a franchise lose its championship virginity? It just seems so much less rewarding to go places that have won recent championships. Durant is so weak.
