The Gordon Hayward Thread

[Dancingpanda]

Only our team would wine and dine a free agent and no one knows what happened.

Bonnell and Cho need to be stranded together on a deserted island and broadcast live for a reality TV show.

Bonnell is too busy tweeting about the Josh Gordon-Hairston situation to look into Hayward I guess.

Is he just trying to make it worse?

[thesneakysneak]

When are we likely to hear anything from these meetings? the suspense is killing me. With McBob out of the picture, Hayward is the logical choice for us.

I wouldn't be surprised if we can nab him from Utah via sign and trade if they do match too. although what they would want from us is tough to figure.
from Utah's perspective, he has been a great prospect for them, but he isnt looking like a guy a team is going to build around. But he could be great in the right system. ahem, our system looks like a pretty good fit.

Utah have Burke, Burks, Hood and Exum now covering the 1/2. that is an excellent young core. Do they NEED to overpay to keep Hayward? Doubt it. They need to make a stand on what young guys they will keep and they should consolidate the rest of the youth assets into vet leadership role players, I think.

[MasterIchiro]

The silence is very very peculiar. This doesn't seem like an in-the-door, out-the-door visit. It doesn't seem like the kind of event that can be captured in a quick blurb in the newspaper. I will be furious if that's all we get from Bonnell after waiting so long. If that's all it is, a blurb and nothing concrete, that's completely inept journalism. That could have been fleshed out in pajamas at 11:30 PM last night.

[BobsBuddy]

This is a Monumental moment for the Hornets organization,MJ and Charlotte..I hope a sign and trade is in the works with Utah for Hayward S/T and Lucas for next years 2015 1st round pick(top 10 protected),Hendo, and Neal. Then with extra money we fill out team with roll players
KW,Lucas,Pargo
Hayward,PJ, CDR
MKG,Tolliver,JT
Zellar,Vonleh,Sign FA F/C
Al,Biz

[MKGsMotor]

I want some damn news. This is getting ridiculous. Call somebody Bonnell

[mrknowitall215]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/scott_fowler/status/486254071368519682[/tweet]

[JMAC3]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/486520656549265409[/tweet]

Looks like Gordon is still here today. So hopefully we hear some positive news today

[mrknowitall215]

I hope the signing (and trading) for Hayward mean that Henderson is coming off the books. That 'might' be the only way I could get 100% behind it

[yosemiteben]

Still so weird that he's a RFA. Maybe we locked him in a closet at the arena and told Utah we won't let him out until they agree to a S&T.

[LofJ]

If the Jazz sign and trade Hayward they will have a big hole at the small forward position and will still be way under the salary flooor. They really don't have much of an incentive to do that unless we send them MKG. So it's either MKG or Hayward, I don't see how we can have both. And for me it's MKG all the way.

[chabber]

Agreed, Henderson going out would really be required for me to be behind this, because of the cap space it would clear if Gordon signs a big deal. The other reason is obviously for the minutes it would open up for better shooters.

It would also still allow the pursuit of Lance, instead of another PF. It's probably not a large chance, but it's a possibility. Master Ichiro's dream idea stays alive!

For a backup PG, they could trade for one or release Gee and move or stretch Neal to clear space.

[LofJ]

Agreed, Henderson going out would really be required for me to be behind this, because of the cap space it would clear if Gordon signs a big deal. The other reason is obviously for the minutes it would open up for better shooters.

It would also still allow the pursuit of Lance, instead of another PF. It's probably not a large chance, but it's a possibility. Master Ichiro's dream idea stays alive!

For a backup PG, they could trade for one or release Gee and move or stretch Neal to clear space.

If we send out MKG for Hayward and don't land Stephenson Cho would need to be fired.

[chabber]

If the Jazz sign and trade Hayward they will have a big hole at the small forward position and will still be way under the salary flooor. They really don't have much of an incentive to do that unless we send them MKG. So it's either MKG or Hayward, I don't see how we can have both. And for me it's MKG all the way.

I've thought the same thing the whole time. So there is no way I'd do that S&T. Again just talking to Jazz fans, we just don't seem like good partners for a S&T. If anyone loses in this, it will most likely be us. My butt is puckered up right now in anticipation of bad news on the horizon.

[LofJ]

If the Jazz sign and trade Hayward they will have a big hole at the small forward position and will still be way under the salary flooor. They really don't have much of an incentive to do that unless we send them MKG. So it's either MKG or Hayward, I don't see how we can have both. And for me it's MKG all the way.

I've thought the same thing the whole time. So there is no way I'd do that S&T. Again just talking to Jazz fans, we just don't seem like good partners for a S&T. If anyone loses in this, it will most likely be us. My butt is puckered up right now in anticipation of bad news on the horizon.

We'll see, I'm hoping Hayward was just for show and that Stephenson has been our target all along.

[MPM]

Blind speculation here, but we seem to be throwing a lot of eggs into the Hayward basket - almost like we have a back room, wink-wink understanding with the Jazz FO. Otherwise, it just seems kind of silly/weird to spend so much time with Hayward as a RFA, and giving him the max to dissuade the Jazz from matching would rank right up there with the biggest bone head moves in franchise history. Just doesn't seem Cho-like.

Hendo + Zeller + conditional 1st would work in S&T for Hayward. Maybe something like this is already on the table.

Would explain the interest in Hump. Hump moves into starting PF role, Vonleh becomes backup. Hayward starts at 2, MKG at 3.

[ohara]

All I know is spending 2 days on him means our FO is really trying hard to land him and he must be receptive since he is spending a 2nd day with us.

[MasterIchiro]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/486520656549265409[/tweet]

Looks like Gordon is still here today. So hopefully we hear some positive news today

WOW!!! 2 whole days! Compare this to Carmelo who visited either Houston or Dallas or LA for only 2 hours. I can't remember. One of those teams or Chicago got excited over a 6 hour visit.

This is Hayward 2 days straight and I can only imagine the progression of negotiations with the Jazz for sign & trade up to this point. You don't drop 2 days like this if you still have work to do with the Jazz. Your work with the Jazz should almost be complete and Hayward should be here to seal the deal if he's here 2 days. How long did he stay in Cleveland? It seemed he was in and out there quickly.

[MasterIchiro]

Agreed, Henderson going out would really be required for me to be behind this, because of the cap space it would clear if Gordon signs a big deal. The other reason is obviously for the minutes it would open up for better shooters.

It would also still allow the pursuit of Lance, instead of another PF. It's probably not a large chance, but it's a possibility. Master Ichiro's dream idea stays alive!

For a backup PG, they could trade for one or release Gee and move or stretch Neal to clear space.

Yes the idea is Henderson + MKG = Hayward + Lance Stephenson. Humphries fortifies rebounding, NBA size at PF as a stop gap so we don't lose production temporarily while Zeller + Vonleh develop. Then maybe we can squeeze in Jameer Nelson or Mario Chalmers.

[mrknowitall215]

Agreed, Henderson going out would really be required for me to be behind this, because of the cap space it would clear if Gordon signs a big deal. The other reason is obviously for the minutes it would open up for better shooters.

It would also still allow the pursuit of Lance, instead of another PF. It's probably not a large chance, but it's a possibility. Master Ichiro's dream idea stays alive!

For a backup PG, they could trade for one or release Gee and move or stretch Neal to clear space.

If we send out MKG for Hayward and don't land Stephenson Cho would need to be fired.

'And1'

...and I also think trading MKG for the middling efficiency of either of Hayward or Stephenson is a fireable offense in itself. We're not a top-10 defensive team without MKG, and that's currently not only our identity but our strength albeit Al Jefferson

[LofJ]

Agreed, Henderson going out would really be required for me to be behind this, because of the cap space it would clear if Gordon signs a big deal. The other reason is obviously for the minutes it would open up for better shooters.

It would also still allow the pursuit of Lance, instead of another PF. It's probably not a large chance, but it's a possibility. Master Ichiro's dream idea stays alive!

For a backup PG, they could trade for one or release Gee and move or stretch Neal to clear space.

Yes the idea is Henderson + MKG = Hayward + Lance Stephenson. Humphries fortifies rebounding, NBA size at PF as a stop gap so we don't lose production temporarily while Zeller + Vonleh develop. Then maybe we can squeeze in Jameer Nelson or Mario Chalmers.

As much as I believe in MKG I would be ok with this. I'd have to be damn sure Stephenson would sign with us though before I pulled the trigger. That said I like MKG + Stephenson a whole lot more than Hayward + Stephenson, so I hope we don't trade for Gordon.