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Here are 4 reasons Gordon Hayward should sign with the Heat

By Wes Goldberg

Dec 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles the ball as Miami Heat guard Rodney McGruder (17) defends during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Miami won 111-110. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles the ball as Miami Heat guard Rodney McGruder (17) defends during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Miami won 111-110. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends against LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz won the game 114-108. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends against LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz won the game 114-108. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Remember LeBron

When LeBron couldn’t win a title in Cleveland as a perimeter-oriented player, he signed with the Heat and, under Spoelstra, embraced his post game and became one of the most efficient players in the league.

LeBron became the fulcrum of a pace-and-space offense that twisted and inverted the floor. It was those lessons he took back to the Cavaliers and helped him bring his hometown a championship.

LeBron played power forward on offense for those Heat teams, and Hayward could do the same. According to basektball-reference.com, Hayward spent 29 percent of his minutes at power forward in Utah last season.

Pairing him with someone like Justise Winslow or James Johnson would allow Hayward to play power forward on offense, drawing mismatches and increasing his efficiency. On defense, Winslow or Johnson could guard opposing 4s.

The Jazz played at the league’s slowest pace last season. Spoelstra prefers to play up-tempo, and the Heat pushed the pace when Goran Dragic was in control, averaging more than four more possessions per 48 minutes than Utah.

Hayward–who averaged 3.5 assists and shot nearly 40 percent on 5.1 3-point attempts per game–could play either role in the Heat’s drive-and-kick offense.

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