The Miami Heat got the first meeting with Gordon Hayward as NBA free agency opened early Saturday morning, and they led with a strong visual to push the small forward to sign in Miami.
Heat executives made the most of Hayward’s first foray into free agency, mocking up banners complete with Hayward in a Heat jersey that they showed off along with other Heat players near American Airlines Arena in Miami.
https://twitter.com/iraheatbeat/status/881169734875709440
Miami is doing more than just a bit of photoshop work to convince Hayward to join the Heat. Reporters covering the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas say Miami had a bare bones staff in place there on Saturday because its coaching staff is, well, busy trying to convince Hayward to play for the Heat.
#Heat say assistants Chris Quinn, Juwan Howard not in Orlando today for start of Summer League. Both back home 'on official team business.'
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) July 1, 2017
Early returns say the strategy is working. Hayward reportedly likes package Miami can offer, which starts with its lifestyle. He’s also apparently a fan of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
https://twitter.com/kevinoconnornba/status/881174360043794432
With Hayward it looks like free agency will be more of a marathon than a sprint. But it looks like Miami got out of the starting blocks clean on Day One.
