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According to sources close to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News, Gordon Hayward will be meeting with the Utah Jazz in San Diego, California on Monday.
Gordon Hayward will meet with Quin Snyder, Dennis Lindsey and Steve Starks in San Diego on Monday, not Utah, according to sources.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 2, 2017
The Millers will also be there. I have a hunch other key players will be there for the meeting.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 2, 2017
The Utah Jazz will have Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder, General Manager Dennis Lindsey, and Utah Jazz President Steve Starks on hand to make the pitch to Gordon Hayward. Most would assume that the Utah Jazz will also have Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert, and other key Utah Jazz players available in San Diego to court the All-Star Small Forward’s services.
Why San Diego? Well, for one, he lives there. The other not so obvious reason is pointed out by Jody Genessy.
Why San Diego? Gordon Hayward has a home there, for one thing. The Jazz's arena and practice facility are under construction, for another.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 2, 2017
The Utah Jazz’s arena and practice facility is under construction. Not that the Utah Jazz need to be in Salt Lake City to really pitch Hayward on what they can offer. He has seen first hand the renovations going on at Vivint SmartHome Arena. He has experienced the investment in coaching resources and development. He has seen the work Dennis Lindsey has done in free agency and the trade market to acquire key pieces like Joe Ingles, George Hill, Ricky Rubio, Joe Johnson, and Donovan Mitchell. He has seen his face and name in bright lights and in print everywhere in Salt Lake City. He’s the face of the franchise. He doesn’t need to imagine it. He lived it.
This all seems to point that Utah has a greater familiarity with Gordon than all prior suitors. Those suitors invited Hayward to their offices. Gordon Hayward is inviting the Utah Jazz into his home and with his family. This free agency seems to be pointing to a happy ending with Gordon Hayward re-signing with the Utah Jazz.