Paul George and Gordon Hayward just lost a potential extra $70 million on their next contracts after missing the All-NBA teams, but somehow they’re not the biggest losers. Instead, that title belongs to their teams, the Indiana Pacers, and Utah Jazz.
With the news George and Hayward weren’t All-NBA caliber in 2017, the Pacers and Jazz can’t offer their star players the Designated Player Extension this offseason. The exception allows teams to sign five-year deals worth 35 percent of the salary cap to a player who won individual awards and/or honors. Steph Curry, James Harden, and John Wall are among the players likely to sign a DPE this summer.
NBA announces All-NBA teams. Neither Paul George nor Gordon Hayward made it. Thus, no supermax for either this year. pic.twitter.com/GbHl82Ss9G
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) May 18, 2017
So, without the ability to offer the $207 million deal, the duo can further explore the free agent market and earn a comparable amount to potential offers from their former teams.
The Jazz can only offer Hayward roughly a five-year, $177 million deal, while other teams can offer four years at $133 million – only slightly less annually. The same goes for the Pacers and George, with the only difference being George isn’t eligible for free agency this offseason and has the potential of earning the supermax next season.
Basically, the news is real bad for the Pacers and worse for the Jazz. There’s no selling it any other way.
George still has a shot earning a supermax, even if it appears destined that he’s bolting for Los Angeles when his contract ends after next season. However, he’s got 207 million reasons to consider sticking with Indiana for the next five seasons, as unlikely as that appears.
As for Hayward, rumors of a possible reunion with Butler coach Brad Stevens in Boston has even more credence now. The Celtics have multiple contracts expiring (Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, James Young) and several useful pieces on great deals (Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown) that they could conceivably fit in Hayward’s deal without having to gut the roster.
The Celtics hypothetical starting five would be Thomas, Hayward, Brown/Avery Bradley, Crowder, and Horford, a pretty tantalizing lineup. Throw in the number one draft pick, likely to be Washington guard Markelle Fultz, and that sounds like good enough reason to opt-out and go green.
How does landing the No. 1 pick impact the Celtics' trade plans? @WojVerticalNBA and @TheVertical staff weigh in: https://t.co/pTfeIVOA5K pic.twitter.com/Kzu2VGfrAy
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) May 18, 2017
Further adding fuel to the fire is the Jazz’s cap situation. George Hill and Joe Ingles both need new contracts and won’t come cheap. Keeping Hayward would require them to cut somebody expensive loose. Obviously, it’s a no-brainer for Utah to do that, but depth will take a hit if Hayward decides to re-up.
Ultimately, no supermax for George and Hayward means its going to be an interesting summer for big name free agent decisions. Hayward’s incentive to re-sign in Utah took a serious hit after no-NBA team honor. As for George, it’s likely the prelude for his goodbye tour in Indiana – unless George somehow makes the team next year and has a change of heart. Jazz and Pacers fans received awful news today.
