****The Official 2016-2017 NBA Thread****

Jazz beat writer says Hayward has changed his mind four times in the last four days.

 

Hayward is absolutely one of the top 5 players at his position. He was one of the top 15 players in the league last year. People will be shocked at how good he is if he gets out of Utah. That's part of the reason why I thought he'd want to come here. People would truly get to see how good he is as the focal point in a big market.

 

This is just a weird situation.

If it was Boston, even though you didn't want the leak, the smart PR move is to just own it and move on. No one (outside of Utah) will care in a day or two

But now it's a circus, and unnecessarily cruel to the Jazzamd the fans if in fact the decision is made but he wants it on his website or whatever

 

Dion about to hit us with 2 for 50 after this mess

 

Where is jimmy butler on your list?

 

melo is still better also regardless of what people think of him

 

Right behind Hayward.

He's also a SG/SF, more commonly considered a SG than anything.

 

He really isn't.

Butler is a 2 guard.

 

LeBron
Durant
Leonard
George
Greek Freak

 

I gotta wonder if his wife freaked out.

The most likely explanation is he really is signing with the Celtics and they're upset that news leaked before they could announce it, as it looks like they may be aiming to do some sort of special announcement.

But if it's true he's changed his mind four times in the last four days then I'd say...Pat Riley is IN San Diego right now, and something may have happened there. Bartelstein's comment about regrouping insinuates that they thought they had the choice made and now they don't.

 

The Celtics always leak stuff. If i had to guess he told Boston before telling the jazz. Then the Celtics leaked it like they always do and it made him look bad from a pr standpoint so, now hes saying he hasn't made up his mind yet.

 

Didnt Riley say there was a plan A and B? I wonder whats plan B..

 

There is no way you're being serious.

 

If im going all in for a 2 year run I'm 100% trying to get melo over hayward. If im rebuilding sure id take Hayward over melo. Neither guy can be your best player anyways so I dont see why its shocking.

 

My guess was Blake Griffin. Or just keeping our own. Although some trades wouldn't shock me.

 

Hayward is better than Melo now and in the future. He's better off-ball, he's a knockdown shooter, he's a more willing passer, and he performed very well in the playoffs. He also plays defense; he's no savant, but there's effort. Melo may not be the best player on his team anymore.

 

Heat officially waives Chris Bosh.

Pat Riley announces that #1 will be retired.

Classy ending to a really tough situation.

And by the way, we now have max cap space....just saying

 

The only real way for this free agency period to end is for Hayward to have decided on Boston, but them leaking that info pushed him somewhere else.

 

Question...were we able to sign Hayward before this or would it have been contingent on this waiving? My understanding is that it was a necessity.

 

Needed to happen. But that was true for signing anyone. Only had $12 million in space so wouldn't have had enough for Dion and JJ anyway

As for the timing, who knows. It was just bookkeeping. But certainly with everything going on it will send Celtics fans into a tizzy so it's great

In all seriousness, I hope Bosh is at peace with his situation and doesn't do anything foolish in trying to play

 

So Bam is pretty much done for Orlando Summer League then? I want to see some more of him on the court. Maybe he plays in Vegas?

 

Hilarious tweet out there

"Agent: Gordon Hayward is simulating seasons on 2k with him on Jazz, Heat and Celtics and seeing how it goes"

Lol

 

I don't know. If he was set on Boston and it leaked, I'm not sure that's a reason to go elsewhere. If he was leaning that way, but undecided maybe. Yeah think he's just legitimately torn.

 

Apparently Woj says that Heat was eliminated last night with Barry reporting that his agent hasn't addressed this with the team but should if true

Agree completely. If we're out, fine. But have the decency to say so we can move on

 

Ramona Shelbourne says the Lakers and Knicks are going after Dion Waiters.

 

Looks like we're down to rooting for Utah.

 

Sorry indecisive pussyboy, but the heat only accept dogs on their squad.

 

Lebron: "I had the most dramatic free agency ever"

Gordon: "Hold my Capri Sun"

 

Anthony Chiang reporting Heat have been told nothing from Hayward other than what everyone else has reported, that there's no decision

At this point, we may have to just read the tea leaves and proceed with whatever plan B was

 

Tim Reynolds says Heat have had some progress on a deal with James Johnson but nothing is done yet.

 

Ira Winderman says the Knicks are very much in play for Waiters. I'm getting worried, fellas.

 

Doubt it. He played three games in a row. They seem to rotate days off.

 

I'm torn on Waiters. You'd hate to commit to him long term, kill future cap space, and him turn back into the player he was before last year. But you'd also hate to lose him only to have him turn into an all-star somewhere only making $10M per year.

Ideally you can land him on a one year deal, but he can probably do better, unless it's just a big one year like Reddick got.

 

I guess I'm in the minority I think Waiters is a no-brainer if Hayward's out. What he did was really impressive. He got to know the Heat and the Heat got to know him, and he ended up fitting right in culturally, defensively.

 

On the right contract i say sign waiters... but no way in hell should he be making anything more than 15 million per season

 

Barry Jackson says the Heat are not going to get into a huge bidding war for Waiters. They're going to let him walk if he gets major offers.

 

So if Hayward goes to the Celtics and Waiters walks...what then? This team seems stuck in the cycle in the middle of the league which is not where you want to be.


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This Hayward decision is a win win for me as a Pelicans lover and a Celtics hater. If he goes to Boston, then that's one less team in the Western Conference Playoff hunt. If he stays in Utah, Boston fans will be suicidal.

Still hoping he goes to Miami.

 

I just reiterate what I said a few hours ago. The Heat needs to break the star "dam" one way or another for others to follow

We'll continue to get meetings but probably won't get picked until we show a star a partner

 

I'd assume JJ and maybe Rudy Gay. I also think Riley will try to work the phones for a trade.