Hill and Hayward: The Package Deal

[7StraightIsGreat]

To all those saying Hill is the key to keeping Hayward, you have got that backwards. Free agency essentially always starts with the biggest names signing first.

I don't believe for one second that Hayward re-ups with the Jazz without ironclad assurances from DL on a George Hill resigning or another big acquisition in his place. In fact, I think Utah's going to be very active in the trade market because they can pull those triggers prior to the start free agency. That way they don't have to try and sell Hayward on what they want to do. They can show him what they've already done.

 

[karl malone]

I'm not convinced that we have to sign Hill for Hayward to stay. After all, there is no place else Gordon would end up where Hill goes with him. I think Hill is playing that card a lot stronger than Gordon. I am sure Gordon would like to have George back but more than that he wants to see we are serious about winning. If we add another piece to the puzzle and it isn't George I think Gordon will be fine with that.

Good post. I don't think it's safe to assume that they're a package deal. I believe Hayward would likely re-sign if we were able to pull off a significant acquisition or the FO's as able to sell him on the promise of eventually landing that missing 3rd piece.

Replacing Hill with a solid stop-gap PG such as Mills/Collison/etc (depending on the financial commitment it would take) while retaining the majority of this year's roster (assuming a significant trade doesn't materialize) shouldn't cause much of a drop-off (if any, considering internal development/incoming rookies/potential additional FA signings/etc) in the teams ability to compete & would help retain long-term flexibility.

Hill missing significant time, Gobert establishing himself as an elite player, & witnessing first hand that the current roster isn't ready to truly compete with GSW are all factors that could convince Hayward to return regardless of how the Hill situation plays out.

 

[gomretat]

I don't think Dante as the starter is enough unless we are after another real strong starter as PF or SG. And I agree with J12 that the Jazz will be very active before free agency starts. Gordon is going to decide before a George Hill deal is finalized so there is an element of trust GH will have to have unless we have pulled off a trade before that point.

 

[karl malone]

I don't think Dante as the starter is enough unless we are after another real strong starter as PF or SG. And I agree with J12 that the Jazz will be very active before free agency starts. Gordon is going to decide before a George Hill deal is finalized so there is an element of trust GH will have to have unless we have pulled off a trade before that point.

Hayward returning without Hill would likely be dependant on acquiring a reasonable starting caliber PG, even if it's just as a stop-gap.

 

[DutchJazzer]

It's pretty clear after the exit interviews that Hill and Hayward are most likely a package deal as far as a return to Utah is concerned. While I would be fine with signing Hill to a 2-year deal, I don't see any scenario in which he signs for less than 4 years. IMO, you don't win championships signing a very good, but not great player to $25-30 million/year deal in which he'll be 35 before you get out from under it. That being said, if Gordon wants Hill in Utah, the Jazz have to do whatever it takes to retain him. It's more than just the prospect of hitting reset on the rebuild again. Losing Hayward to a bigger market after all of the time, effort, and development it has taken to get to this point would just be a monumental let down for a franchise that needs to retain it's homegrown talent now more than ever.

So while I suppose there's a chance Dennis Lindsey can sell Hayward into signing with a promise of a big name acquisition that's not named Hill, I'm starting to make my peace with the fact that we'll be watching a "Big 3" of Hayward-Gobert-Hill for the next 4-5 years. My concern is that even if these moves are absolutely necessary, Utah is committing itself to 4-seed purgatory for the next 5 years. We all know for certain that a roster built around those 3 cannot topple the Warriors as they are currently constituted. My worry is that even if/when GS loses 1 of their Big 4, Utah still isn't good enough to get past them. I also have my doubts about how we will fare against the Kawhi led Spurs and Harden led Rockets as those teams move towards the future.

Assuming that this is our "Big 3" going forward, what exactly is our ceiling? If this is how it plays out, now more than ever Lindsay needs to get aggressive with the other players we have on this roster. It will be time to push the envelope and see what varying combinations of Favors, Hood, Burks, Exum, and draft picks can get us. I'm trying to stay positive but I have this nagging feeling that Utah is in the familiar position of locking itself into being good, but not great, with little wiggle room to change anything.

dont underestimate gobert! if goldenstate loses 1 of their big4. gobert will beat them! he got his taste of playoff basketball!

 

[colton]

So you think Hayward will re-sign without a commitment from the Jazz regarding Hill or similar FA signing?

The jazz will tell him their general plan I'd bet, like "we will make every effort to re-sign Hill, we see him as an integral part of our plans for the next few years," but they won't be able to guarantee what specifically will occur.

 

[colton]

I dont think Hayward is coming back if you cant retain Hill or at least show him a guaranteed plan to replace Hill with someone close to his level. If you are telling Hayward Exum is going to be the starter he probably lol's his way to Boston.

I agree with that.

 

[fishonjazz]

So you think Hayward will re-sign without a commitment from the Jazz regarding Hill or similar FA signing?

I do

 

[fishonjazz]

I think Hayward signs with the jazz cause $$$

 

[framer]

I just like he conceit here that everyone on this board thinks that they have a better handle on the salary cap situation than Gordon Hayward. If signing Hill to four years 25 million hurts the team, Hayward knows that more than anyone. If that type of money loses us Jingles and Favors, why would you think that Hayward is stupid enough to go along with it?

For the record, I think Hill can get 4 years OR 25 million, not both. There are only 8 or nine teams that could offer him that, and he isn't 8th or 9th on the priority list. Unfortunately, one of those teams is the Spurs, which is the only real situation that Hill can shine like he does here.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I want to say Im 50% certain Favors is traded during or before the draft.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

dont underestimate gobert! if goldenstate loses 1 of their big4. gobert will beat them! he got his taste of playoff basketball!

While I love Gobert and his attitude, let's be 100% honest with each other: He still has some pretty big holes in his game that until fixed, will prevent him from willing the Utah Jazz to playoff victories over the NBA elite. He still needs to see major improvement offensively. Outside of 3 feet, bad things usually happen when Rudy gets the ball and while improved, he's still a big liability at the free throw line. Being the best rim protector isn't going to be enough to win an NBA title.