Utah Jazz Negotiating Contract Extension For Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward; New York Knicks Work Out Hamed Haddadi
The Utah Jazz have reportedly started negotiating with Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward for a possible contract extension, a reliable league source disclosed on Saturday.
The Jazz are trying to keep their most precious assets from the 2010 rookie class by making efforts to sign both Favors and Hayward to new deals before the October 31 deadline.
Both Favors and Hayward are considered among the brightest young players in the league, making them the cornerstones of the Jazz's rebuilding effort.
Favors, the third overall pick in the 2010 Draft, played his first 56 games with the New Jersey Nets before he was sent in a package to the Jazz in exchange for All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The former Georgia Tech standout averaged 9.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks with the Jazz last season.
Hayward, on the other hand, was selected 9th overall in 2010 after a productive college career at Butler. The 23-year old Hayward emerged as a versatile small forward, averaging 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He has also developed the ability to defend opposing wing players using his wingspan and shifty footwork.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are still in search for the 15th member of the ballclub. After working out Sean May and Ivan Johnson, the Knicks also worked out former Memphis Grizzlies and Iranian center Hamed Haddadi last Friday.
Haddadi was coming off a dominant performance in the just concluded FIBA Asia Championship, averaging 18.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
The 28-year Haddadi was named the Most Valuable Player for the third time after steering Iran back to the World Cup of Basketball in Spain. Last season, the Iranian played with three teams (Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, and the Phoenix Suns).
Join the Conversation