Report: Jazz will match Hornets' max offer sheet for Gordon Hayward

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The Utah Jazz have said all along that they would match any offer sheet that restricted free agent Gordon Hayward was signed to.

The Charlotte Hornets decided to test that resolve by inking the young wing to a maximum offer sheet, complete with a player option in year four and a sizable trade kicker that would make him tough to move at a later date. It was a bold move, but one the Jazz are reportedly still willing to match.

The reason behind waiting three days to match the offer is two-fold: for one, in the meantime, only Hayward's qualifying offer stands on Utah's books as a cap hold, not the amount of his new salary, which affords them a bit more flexibility on the market; second, it ties up the Hornets' cap (they have the entire offer on their books for the three days), a minor punishment for pushing such an offer forward.

The second point may not be their admitted thinking, but it's probably a consideration. We'll show you, and all.

And if you're the Jazz, this is a disappointing turn of events, even if you do end up with the player you wanted all along. Hayward declined a four-year, $48 million offer before the season and proceeded to see his efficiency drop across the board, but he'll know be paid far more handsomely than that earlier offer. 

Hayward is decidedly not a max contract player, but the Jazz think losing him for nothing is worse than overpaying him to a degree. 

Considering he may have the highest upside of any of their young players, it's easy to understand their logic. They'll have to hold out hope, however, that as the pieces around him improve and defenses can't focus in on him as much that he improves as a scorer and facilitator.