Gordan Hayward agrees to sign 4-year, $63 million offer sheet with Hornets

Gordon Hayward has agreed to sign an offer sheet worth the maximum amount under the CBA with the Charlotte Hornets according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Gordon Hayward has agreed to an offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets, the Observer has learned.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) July 9, 2014

The Hornets have been reported as interested in Hayward since free agency began. When Hayward visited with Charlotte a few days ago, they had a picture of his face outside the arena as they pulled out all the stops.

Hayward in his final year with the Jazz suffered a setback in his numbers. His transition from role player to the Jazz's number 1 option on offense has been a bumpy one indeed over the past couple years. He clearly wasn't that kind of player. In Charlotte, he won't be the top option, and that benefits him.

Except, Hayward might not even make it to Charlotte. Hayward is a restricted free agent with the Utah Jazz. and they can match whatever the Hornets are offering. They do have one saving grace, they offered Hayward the max.

Charlotte has agreed to a 4-year, $63M maximum offer sheet with Utah RFA Gordon Hayward, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014

The Jazz have been saying the entire offseason they will match any offer for Hayward. The best way to ensure the highest possibility that they don't match the offer is by offering a max deal, and forcing Utah to do it.

I personally think Hayward fits great in Charlotte thanks to his shooting.  If you don't like him, fear not, he probably isn't going to make it to Charlotte.

Jazz prepared for possibility of max sheet for Hayward and remain unwavering about revelation it's coming: They plan to match and keep him.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014