Howard Beck: Western conference GM says Hayward is leaving Utah

[Bobshot]

The trend for top FAs these days is to go to a winner--the team that can best get them a ring. I don't think it has much to do with anything else. Taxes, etc. They do have to be convinced they have a starting spot on the team, but I don't think money is a concern. The pay is about the same everywhere--give or take. The big concern is the ring. So it was with Durant.

As far as Hayward is concerned, I think the Celtics have a leg up on everybody else. They are clearly a Hayward away from seriously contending the Cavs--though they need more beef up front as well. And Stevens was the kid's college coach. Plus the East is the weaker Division--an easier route to the finals.

You figure GS is pretty much starred up, SA maybe but I doubt they can add any star without weakening somewhere else, and Utah, which is in a tough position vs the elite in the West.

Miami? That sounds like fake news to me.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Lol.

[Smitty77]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

[TheSundanceKid]

Re: The Heat. If Hayward is considering them then tax is pretty obviously a draw. Which means that money matters to him. So the talk of him taking $500k less so we can keep x or y isn't going to happen.

The Heat are a good team that probably underperformed on the year, with the addition of Hayward they could be a top 4 team next year. More importantly in 2 or 3 years they could assemble a very good team.

[CelticsElite]

We got him

[chambers]

Re: The Heat. If Hayward is considering them then tax is pretty obviously a draw. Which means that money matters to him. So the talk of him taking $500k less so we can keep x or y isn't going to happen.

The Heat are a good team that probably underperformed on the year, with the addition of Hayward they could be a top 4 team next year. More importantly in 2 or 3 years they could assemble a very good team.

top 4 in the East? Or the whole NBA?

Keep in mind the Heat don't currently have an All Star.
He'd be joining Dragic (no where near an All Star), and Whiteside...a poor man's version of Rudy Gobert with the mental stability of a cat in heat.

[Beat LA]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Neither would I.  Never underestimate the enemy.  Winslow blows, though.  Wow .

[Moranis]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

I fully expect Bradley to be better than Fultz for a couple of seasons

[Eddie20]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Moranis, I give you credit for being consistently wrong.

So you "think" they can sign Hayward, re-sign Waiters, and also sign a mid-tier player (I'm guessing you're suggesting an Olynyk type contract), huh? The Heat do NOT have Bird Rights to either Waiters or Johnson, so there is no cap hold. They need to sign both of them using actual cap space.

Here's more of a reality fact check from the Palm Beach Post-

Miami is expected to have about $38 million in cap space after it clears Chris Bosh’s contract off their salary cap and that number could go up to $42 million if the Heat decide to release and use the stretch provision on Josh McRoberts’ contract.

Hayward is expected to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract this summer and pass on the $16.7 million owed to him to become a free agent. The 27-year-old will likely get a max contract with a starting salary of about $31 million next season, a number the Heat are expected to have space for this summer.

But Hayward can get more money from the Jazz than he can from any other team this offseason. The Jazz can offer him a five-year contract worth about $177 million, while any other team can offer him a four-year contract worth about $132 million.

If the Heat were to land Hayward, Miami could throw out a starting lineup of Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, Hayward, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside next season. In this scenario, the Heat almost certainly wouldn’t have enough money to retain Dion Waiters and James Johnson, but maybe one of those two impending free agents could decide to return at a discount.

[mctyson]

Here's more of a reality fact check from the Palm Beach Post-

If the Heat were to land Hayward, Miami could throw out a starting lineup of Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, Hayward, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside next season. In this scenario, the Heat almost certainly wouldn’t have enough money to retain Dion Waiters and James Johnson, but maybe one of those two impending free agents could decide to return at a discount.

Even more of a reality check - it was the play of the 2 guys highlighted that turned around Miami's season and neither of those guys is taking a discount on their next contract.

[Chris22]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

I fully expect Bradley to be better than Fultz for a couple of seasons

You must be joking.

[mctyson]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

I fully expect Bradley to be better than Fultz for a couple of seasons

You must be joking.

Bradley will certainly be better on defense for at least 2 seasons and we have no idea how Fultz would translate to the NBA yet. 

[Chris22]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

I fully expect Bradley to be better than Fultz for a couple of seasons

You must be joking.

Bradley will certainly be better on defense for at least 2 seasons and we have no idea how Fultz would translate to the NBA yet.

Perhaps. But Bradley is the worst passing guard I have ever seen. I cringe when he has the ball in his hands.

[Eddie20]

Re: The Heat. If Hayward is considering them then tax is pretty obviously a draw. Which means that money matters to him. So the talk of him taking $500k less so we can keep x or y isn't going to happen.

The Heat are a good team that probably underperformed on the year, with the addition of Hayward they could be a top 4 team next year. More importantly in 2 or 3 years they could assemble a very good team.

top 4 in the East? Or the whole NBA?

Keep in mind the Heat don't currently have an All Star.
He'd be joining Dragic (no where near an All Star), and Whiteside...a poor man's version of Rudy Gobert with the mental stability of a cat in heat.

LOL

[Tr1boy]

I wouldn't count the Heat out.  Whiteside and Dragic is a nice little duo.  Winslow and Richardson are some quality young players. Plus who wouldn't want to live in Miami all winter and have no state income tax to boot.

Never ever count out Pat Riley. I was pretty comfortable thinking the C's were the only real contenders for Hayward outside of Utah. Then I heard Miami. Not so sure now.

Riley also has an eternal hatred for the C's and Ainge. Like it is real.

Miami is a possibe destination for Hayward but id think Riley would have to pick up another allstar player to really attract Hayward. I dont think he goes to Miami with the roster they have now.

Boston is gonna be a much sexier choice for Hayward with IT, Horford and Brad Stevens coaching. But anything can happen between now and his final decision

Winslow missed most of the year.  Richardson and Waiters played a little over half the year, and the Heat closed very well to finish with 41 wins.  They aren't as far away from real contention as we would like them to be, which makes them a real threat for either Hayward or Griffin (the C's likely top two targets). 

If they clear Bosh (or at least most of his contract - I don't recall what they agreement was), then they will have room for a max contract and will still be able to keep Waiters because his cap hold is so low (if they cut Ellington and let go all other cap holds, they would actually have room for a max, a mid-tier player, and can still keep Waiters).  Now I don't think a team of Dragic, Waiters, Hayward, McRoberts, Whiteside with Winslow, Richardson, T. Johnson, and 14 (Giles?) is better than Boston would be with Hayward and Fultz (and no Bradley), but it isn't so far behind that Miami can totally be discounted either.

Really Moranis?  Are you counting us ADDING Fultz???  That is quite the ADDITION!!!!!!!!\


Smitty77

I fully expect Bradley to be better than Fultz for a couple of seasons

I agree.. cant see Fultz starting over AB (next couple of seasons at min)