Who do we get to fill the hole for Love for the 40-50 games he'll invariably miss each season?
This.
If we ended up with Love it would take a big chunk of our cap for the next 4 years potentially. He's rarely healthy. Yes it would clear up our log jam at the wing spot, but at least Hayward played more games and if he doesn't return to for this summer, we should be off the hook on his contract next year if he does the right thing and opts out.
If we do things right we can get a low max contract this year, like a Russell, and then go after some one else next season.
“Does the right thing and it’s out”
Respectfully, that is a fantasy my friend.
I think part of Haywards head space issues is he knows how much he's getting payed and how much he was producing. You could see the frustration on his face, so I think he's aware of it.
There have been players that have done this to help the team, were he could opt out and sign a lesser long term contract that would be more fitting for a bench player. But this is all depending on if we get close to Utah Hayward or last season Hayward.
And if it's about money, he's dabbling in the video game field, where he probably will make a ton of money seeing how it's booming right now. Plus he could do color work, good speaker/pretty face. He's one of the guys you don't worry about after basketball.
So yeah it's a long shot, but not nessarely out of the question of possibility.