Viewed heading into the 2016/17 season as the Western lottery team most likely to make the jump into the playoffs, the Jazz delivered — and then some. Their 51-31 record was their best mark since 2009/10. Having battled injuries for much of the year, Utah has room to take another step forward next season, but the club will first have to navigate a difficult offseason, with key players like Gordon Hayward and George Hill potentially reaching free agency.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Jazz financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Rudy Gobert ($21,224,719)
- Derrick Favors ($12,000,000)
- Alec Burks ($10,845,506)
- Joe Johnson ($10,505,000)
- Dante Exum ($4,992,385)
- Trey Lyles ($2,441,400)
- Rodney Hood ($2,386,864)
- Joel Bolomboy ($1,312,611)
- Total: $65,708,485
Player Options
- Gordon Hayward ($16,736,710)
- Total: $16,736,710
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Boris Diaw ($7,500,000)1
- Raul Neto ($1,471,382)
- Total: $8,971,382
Restricted Free Agents
- Joe Ingles ($2,687,500 qualifying offer / $4,085,000 cap hold)
- Total: $4,085,000
Cap Holds
- Gordon Hayward ($24,109,710) — If player option is declined
- George Hill ($15,200,000)
- Shelvin Mack ($4,623,335)
- No. 24 overall pick ($1,579,440)
- Jeff Withey ($1,471,382)
- No. 30 overall pick ($1,394,520)
- Total: $48,378,387
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $30,686,325
- With their eight guaranteed contracts, cap holds for two first-round picks, and a pair of cap charges for empty roster spots, the Jazz would have a team salary of $70,313,675. However, in that scenario, Utah would have to renounce Hayward, Hill, Ingles, and the rest of their free agents, in addition to waiving Diaw and Neto. So that’s probably a scenario the club will try to avoid. Re-signing Hayward and/or Hill would eat up most or all of Utah’s potential cap room.
Footnotes:
- Diaw’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
I would love the Jazz do a sign-and-trade with the Indiana Pacers. Gordon Hayward for Paul George.
Hayward goes back home to Indiana, the Pacers get a pretty good player they can’t otherwise attract in free agency, Paul George comes to the West coast and closer to his Fresno hometown, and plays hopefully if they sign him, with his friend and former teammate, George Hill.
Indiana Stays relevant and Utah takes a step towards the top of the West.
Everyone’s a winner!!
PG is way better than Hayward