Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Even if it is a max deal, Jazz Match or counter offer with a five year arrangement that is less per year. Gordon is here to stay. Watch Locke's tipoff today for an explanation. It actually makes a lot of sense.
Once the deal is signed, they can only match. If Cleveland is giving him the MAX, then Utah matches or doesn't. However, if it is something less (and the Jazz were ok with paying him the total contract value), it could be structured to pay him the MAX in year #1 and then decrease over the next 4 years. For example, let's just suppose Hayward's agent says a deal is on the table for 4/$52M and they're considering it. Jazz counter with a 5 year deal for the same average, but pay it out as a MAX the first year and decreasing salaries 2-5 to help them with the cap/tax in the last couple of seasons.