Jazz, Gordon Hayward Not Close To Deal
The two sides are pretty distant.
As the Thursday deadline for an extension nears, Utah Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward has a lot to think about.
He's in talks with the Jazz about a new deal, and it's paramount that they secure his services considering he's the anchor of this young core that also includes recently-extended forward Derrick Favors (he agreed to a four-year, $49 million deal on Oct. 18).
But as Hayward continues to showcase his under-appreciated skills during the preseason, and as it seems more apparent that his fanbase extends beyond the Jazz and to the league at large, the chance remains that he may not agree to an extension and will instead choose to be a highly sought-after restricted free agent next summer.
A person with knowledge of the talks said the two sides were not close to a deal as of Saturday afternoon, though that doesn't mean one may not eventually get done. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.