The Jazz were good for Gordon Hayward. He decided another team would be better for him going forward.
Boris Diaw was good for the Jazz. They decided another player would be better for them going forward.
Following Utah’s emotional reaction to Hayward leaving for the Celtics, the Jazz are back to the cold business decisions teams and players make all the time.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Utah is expected to waive Boris Diaw, a source said. He will not return to the Jazz next season.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 13, 2017
Utah’s recent additions of Thabo Sefolosha and Jonas Jerebko – whose salaries combined exceed the mid-level exception and individually surpassed the bi-annual exception – necessitated dumping Diaw. Diaw’s $7.5 million salary is fully unguaranteed and becomes fully guaranteed Saturday. The Jazz could always trade him if a deal presents itself before Saturday, but this report suggests they’ve already canvassed and found no takers.
Utah has plenty of options to take Diaw’s minutes, in big or small lineups: Derrick Favors, Jonas Jerebko, Joe Ingles, Joe Johnson and Ekpe Udoh. None possess Diaw’s playmaking ability, but Ricky Rubio’s talent as a singular distributor make that less of a concern.
The 35-year-old Diaw has shown significant signs of decline, but he has so much basketball intelligence and is so well-liked, he’ll likely land with a contender.