Heat rumors: Miami as much a threat as Boston to sign Gordon Hayward

The Miami Heat will have the cap room to make a run at Gordon Hayward and, as we know when Pat Riley is involved, anything can happen.

On the heels of ESPN’s Zach Lowe reporting that the Miami Heat are “loading up” for a run at Gordon Hayward, his colleague Marc Stein writes that Miami is as much as a threat as the Boston Celtics to land the Utah Jazz free agent.

"The Miami Heat intend to join the Boston Celtics in pursuit of Utah Jazz All-Star forward Gordon Hayward when free agency starts July 1, according to league sources.The Jazz certainly have a strong case to re-sign Hayward, thanks largely to the five-year pact worth an estimated $180 million that only they can offer as well as Utah’s on-the-rise status in the Western Conference.But sources told ESPN.com that the Jazz regard the Heat as no less a threat to lure Hayward away than the Celtics…"

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The most the Heat and Celtics can offer is a four-year contract worth about $130 million. The Jazz, meanwhile, can offer $175 million over five seasons.

Hayward will command up to the $31 million max salary for next season, and the Heat have the room to offer it to him with about $37 million in expected cap space.

Largely because of the connection between Hayward and his college coach, now Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, Boston has long been expected to make a serious run at the 27-year-old All Star.

The Heat, however, are always a threat to land the top free agents, thanks to Pat Riley, #CULTURE, the draw of South Beach and the lack of state income tax. More and more reports, including this latest one from Stein, is putting Miami in the mix.

Blake Griffin

Signing Hayward is probably the team’s top priority, but Stein also reports they could be interested in signing Blake Griffin.

"In addition to Hayward, Miami and Boston are also widely expected to pursue LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin in free agency. Hayward and Griffin are seen around the league as All-Star free agents who are indeed attainable this summer,"

It was previously reported that the Heat may not be willing to shell out max money for Griffin, but that can always change if Riley becomes desperate to add All-Star talent.

If adding either of those players doesn’t work out, the Heat are expected to prioritize re-signing James Johnson and Dion Waiters.

Next: 4 reasons Gordon Hayward should sign with the Heat

The team can create more cap space by waiving Wayne Ellington (whose contract doesn’t become guaranteed until July 7) or finding a way to offload Josh McRoberts’ $6 million cap hit or Tyler Johnson’s sizable contract.