Heat rumors: Miami ‘loading up’ to pursue 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.

The NBA Finals are over, the Golden State Warriors are champions, and now the other 29 teams will spend the summer trying to figure out how to beat them.

The Miami Heat, always a threat to land the top free agents, have Pat Riley, #CULTURE, the draw of South Beach and the lack of state income tax. They also have cap space, about $37 million after clearing Chris Bosh’s salary from the books.

Many expect the Heat to target Gordon Hayward–the summer’s top actually-available free agent. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reports they are preparing for a run at the Utah Jazz All Star.

"Miami is loading up now to pursue Gordon Hayward, according to league sources."

(This may be completely unrelated, but Justise Winslow the same morning of the story posted a photo on Instagram with the comment “Loading…” Read into that what you will.)

Hayward will command up to the $31 million max salary for next season, and the Heat have the room to offer it to him. Utah can offer him a five-year contract worth about $175 million, while other teams can offer a maximum of four years and about $130 million.

ESPN’s Marc Stein recently reported that the Jazz are growing concerned about Miami’s chances to sign away its best player.

More from All U Can Heat

• Grade the Trade: Heat grab Trae Young in shocking proposal
• NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings
• 4 Teams that should trade for Tyler Herro
• Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
• 1 Advantage the Heat have over every Southeast Division team

In addition to the Heat and Jazz, the Celtics are also considered a contender for Hayward’s services (Hayward’s college coach at Butler, Brad Stevens, coaches Boston). However, if Riley can get a meeting, he’s proven he can be very convincing.

Hayward may be the only free agent the Heat would be willing to pay up to the maximum salary for. They are not believed to be willing to come up that high for Blake Griffin or Paul Millsap. Among the team’s other off-season priorities are re-signing James Johnson and Dion Waiters but, if they land Hayward, it’s unlikely they’d be able to retain both.

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.

Next: Rudy Gay to opt out, could have eyes for Miami

But those are largely fringe moves. If we’ve learned anything from these finals, teams need stars to compete at the top of the league. Multiple of them. Hayward almost made an All-NBA roster this season and his best basketball is still ahead of him. If you’re the Heat, you sign him if he’s willing, and fill in the gaps later.