When DL tells the league, "We'll match any offer," he's posturing in the hopes that no one will then bother to make a big offer to snatch Hayward away. The Hornets think DL is bluffing when he says this. They're trying to call his bluff. I don't think either the Hornets or the Jazz care about hamstringing the other team's payroll. The Hornets apparently want Gordon on their team.
You are probably right. However, to think that the inner-workings and behind closed door meetings are that simple is ignorant at best. Also, if you don't think that teams try to hurt each other financially, then you might just need to stick to WWE, Canadian football, or other worthless fake sports like soccer.