The Boston Celtics are celebrating, ESPN’s Chris Haynes is crowing and the NBA world is paying (very) close attention to Gordon Hayward’s next team in Massachusetts. However, the team that Hayward leaves behind, the Utah Jazz, must figure out what to do moving forward to fill the gaping hole left by an All-Star defection.
With that as the backdrop, the Jazz will reportedly meet with Washington Wizards restricted free agent forward Otto Porter in the coming days.
The Utah Jazz have scheduled a meeting with Washington Wizards restricted free agent Otto Porter, league sources told Basketball Insiders.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 4, 2017
Confirming reports that Otto Porter is a prime target for the Utah Jazz, now that Gordon Hayward is off to Boston
— tribjazz (@tribjazz) July 5, 2017
The Sacramento Kings had been rumored to show max-level interest in Porter in recent days, including reporting that the organization provided the talented forward with a four-year contract exceeding $100 million. Sacramento no longer has that type of cap space, though, after the team invested heavily in George Hill and Zach Randolph, leaving Wizards fans to breathe a bit easier about their young free agent.
News of Utah’s interest could throw a wrench in that comfort from Washington, though it is (very) important to note that the Jazz do not currently have the salary cap space to make Porter a competitive offer. Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey has been very creative in the past, though, as evidenced by his pursuit and acquisition of Ricky Rubio as a fail-safe in negotiations with the now-departed Hill.
The Jazz would be extremely interesting for Porter in the event that Washington elected not to match any offer but the Wizards do, of course, have the ability to do so given his restricted free agent set-up. Utah isn’t shying away from big moves but, in the end, Porter isn’t sneaking away from the nation’s capital unless the Wizards actively allow him to do so.
