New York Knicks: Pending Free Agents To Watch In 2017 All-Star Game

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Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference forward Gordon Hayward (20) of the Utah Jazz during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Gordon Hayward, Player Option

Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 26 (3/23/1990)
Experience: 7th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .465/.385/.870
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.6 MPG, 22.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.0 3PM

Most NBA fans, writers, and analysts have the Utah Jazz pegged as the heavy favorites to sign Gordon Hayward this coming offseason. If Utah is unable to re-sign the 26-year-old wing, however, there’s no telling which team will succeed in doing so.

Though the New York Knicks may be perceived as a non-factor in the race for Hayward, this is the perfect opportunity for Phil Jackson to make a splash.

Hayward has a player option worth $16,736,710 for the 2017-18 season, but he’ll likely decline it and pursue a max contract. That’s a hefty fee, but Hayward is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA.

A fundamentally sound wing with positional versatility and a team-first mentality, Hayward is the type of player whom Jackson would love to build the triangle offense with.

The appeal with Hayward is that he’s proven capable of starting at both shooting guard and small forward. Thus, the Knicks could sign Hayward to play the 2 and otherwise keep the rotation the same, or put him at the 3 and bump Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis up by a position.

The odds of New York signing Hayward are slim, but he’s the perfect player for Jackson to exorcise his offseason demons with.

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