The media members may have screwed over the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz in keeping their star players. The 2016-17 All-NBA teams were announced on Thursday, with Paul George and Gordon Hayward not appearing on any of the three teams.
Both players were eligible for the five-year, $207 million max deal this summer, allowing the Pacers and Jazz an advantage to keeping the star players they drafted back in 2010. Now, they might be screwed.
With Paul George, Gordon Hayward left off All-NBA teams, Pacers and Jazz lose chance to re-sign them to 5-year, $207M super-max contracts.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 18, 2017
Here's the full list of All-NBA Teams.— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 18, 2017
No Paul George. No Gordon Hayward. pic.twitter.com/I65VKwTLWs
There is no incentive for George to sign a max deal with the Pacers now. Next year in free agency, the max George can sign with any other team is at a $33 million salary while it would be a $35 million salary with the Pacers.
It's not much of a difference, so it increases the chances of George heading elsewhere such as the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers.
For the Jazz, their title-contending team could end up being in shambles if Hayward were to leave this summer. The Celtics look like they have a legit shot now at the star forward.
Looking at the All-NBA teams, I'm surprised George or Hayward didn't make it. I definitely would have picked PG over at least Jimmy Butler. Heck, I wouldn't blame some for taking Hayward over DeMar DeRozan either.
Now, two franchises' fates could end up being destroyed with these selections. It's a tough league, man.
