The Utah Jazz still are hoping for a sign-and-trade agreement that will help facilitate Gordon Hayward's departure to the Boston Celtics while netting the Jazz Boston forward Jae Crowder.
But it doesn't look promising.
The Celtics, who need to clear cap space to offer a max deal to Hayward, traded Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for Marcus Morris on Friday morning. A few moments after the trade, the Boston Globe reported the Celtics intend to keep Crowder, who is valuable for his defense, shooting and versatility.
That means options for the Jazz are thinning. Small forwards James Johnson signed with the Miami Heat and Rudy Gay with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Otto Porter both are tied up with offer sheets from the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
If the Jazz can't find a passable replacement for Hayward on the unrestricted free agent market, they may have to explore the trade market.
— Tony Jones
Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder (99) drivers to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2) and LeBron James (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 5, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Chicago Bulls' Rajon Rondo (9) and Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder (99) battle for a loose ball during the third quarter of a first-round NBA playoff basketball game, Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Jazz player Gordon Hayward contemplates an answer on the season in exit interview in front of the sports media in Salt Lake City Tuesday May 9. The team cleaned out their lockers after their loss to the Golden State Warriors last night.
Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2)3 drives on Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
FILE - In this April 30, 2017, file photo, Washington Wizards' Otto Porter Jr. (22) drives past Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder (99) during the third quarter of a second-round NBA playoff series basketball game, in Boston. Following his best NBA season, Otto Porter Jr. has a big offer to join the Brooklyn Nets. Porter has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Nets, a person with knowledge of the details said. The Wizards plan to match the offer and keep Porter, the person told The Associated Press on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because contracts can't be signed until Thursday. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
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