The Charlotte Hornets went after Gordon Hayward with a max contract offer in free agency, but the Utah Jazz opted to match the free agent deal at four years, $63 million and now Kirk Hinrich is a target for the team along with the Chicago Bulls, who are also trying to sign Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Jazz are prepared to match the offer given to Hayward by the Hornets and that was not an unexpected move for the team. Hayward had wanted to sign a max contract with the Jazz, but the two sides could not work out a deal earlier in the season and now Hayward has parlayed that into the deal he originally had hoped to sign. Hayward had a very solid year with the Jazz last season and he has developed into one of the better young players in the league.
Sam Amick writes at USA Today that Hayward is happy with the deal and his agent said that they were impressed with the Hornets and are happy to see that the Jazz "valued" Hayward. Last season Hayward put up 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game and was the best player on terrible Jazz team and now he is back in the fold as one of their major building blocks along with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. Hayward is considered a very solid offensive player and he also can create his own shot and that is something very valuable for a team like the Jazz, who picked Dante Exum in the first round of the draft.
The Hornets made the playoffs last season after signing Al Jefferson as the Bobcats and now they feel that they can add some solid players around a young core that includes Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The team is also reportedly after Kirk Hinrich along with the Bulls, according to SI.com. Hinrich averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 assists last season with the Bulls and he has been with the team for nine of his 11 years in the league. Hinrich is an excellent three point shooter, putting in over 35 percent from long range last year.
