This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz will put contract extension talks on hold until after the Olympics, reports indicated on Monday night.
Gobert's camp and the Jazz have been talking and exploring an extension for the last few weeks. If the extension does get done before the season begins, Gobert will almost certainly be making max money with max years. He would be the first of recent Jazz draft picks (among Dante Exum, Trey Lyles and Rodney Hood) to secure a deal beyond his rookie contract.
There is certainly some risk involved. Extending Gobert now would cost the Jazz significant cap space next summer when they will likely have to offer a max contract in order to retain star small forward Gordon Hayward.
At the same time, there is reward. If Gobert isn't extended now, he and his camp could opt to go the restricted free agency route. The Jazz would certainly keep him, but if Gobert went and signed an offer sheet on the market, he could get a contract favorable in years. Indeed, Hayward's offer sheet that he signed with the Charlotte Hornets featured the early out that will make him an unrestricted free agent following this season.
The Jazz want to make Gobert feel wanted, which is why extending him now makes sense. They can get him for more years, and certainly see him as a centerpiece to future plans. Gobert announced via twitter on Monday that he is playing with France in the Olympics. The Jazz will have four players in Rio, Boris Diaw, Joe Ingles and Raul Neto being the other three.
— Tony Jones