Miami Heat wrap up ‘strong presentation’ to Gordon Hayward

The Miami Heat had the first meeting with free agent Gordon Hayward. Now they’ll wait for his decision.

Pat Riley, along with several other Miami Heat representatives, pitched Gordon Hayward today on the idea of playing in South Beach. In addition to Riley, Erik Spoelstra was in attendance, as well as Hassan Whiteside, Udonis Haslem, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson, and free agent James Johnson. According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the meeting went well.

"“The Heat made a strong presentation to free agent Gordon Hayward on Saturday and emerged believing it went very well.[…]Besides telling Hayward all of the obvious positives of playing here – weather, lack of state income tax, the Heat culture and championship pedigree – coaches also explained to Hayward how the offense would play to his strengths. The meeting lasted several hours.”"

The Heat pulled out the stops, even hanging banners in Miami of Hayward in a Heat jersey.

Whiteside has also been active in recruiting Hayward, and his Snapchat account has several not-so-settle attempts to sway Hayward’s decision…

…while also throwing shade at cold weather cities like Boston and Utah:

The presence of James Johnson, who is not under contract but is reportedly willing to wait out free agency with patience for Miami’s process, is a strong inclusion in the meeting. His team-first attitude could be a convincing (or, at least, impressive) factor.

Miami is believed to have offered Hayward a four-year max contract starting at $29.7 million next season. That would leave the Heat will less than $6 million in cap room, but the team could create more to re-sign Johnson or Dion Waiters.

But first, they need to sign Hayward, who still has meetings with Boston and Utah to come. Miami’s perks are obvious: Warm weather, no state-income tax, a championship pedigree, the team’s culture and coaching. However, the Celtics are led by Hayward’s college coach Brad Stevens, and Utah is where he’s grown into an All-Star.

Next: 4 reasons why Gordon Hayward should sign with the Heat

It’s been reported that Hayward wants to make a quick decision. Miami’s had its chance to convince him, and are finalists for his services. Now, like Riley and the rest of the Heat, we’ll just have to wait and see what he decides.