The NBA rumors on free agency are starting to buzz and one of the perceived trends is star players leaving for their hometown or the big city.
However, that trend has happened more in history than with recent events. Players like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan have shunned their chance to go back home to their recent hometown teams, which are also big cities (Washington DC and Los Angeles). Will the Utah Jazz continue to buck the trend?
The Jazz are rising up the standings and the Western Conference teams are starting to take notice. With Rudy Gobert living up to his potential as a star center, the Jazz should be a team to watch. However, they might be on the radar for the wrong reasons.
Two of their starters will become free agents in the summer and two teams from the East are making their case to try and pry them away. The Indiana Pacers are taking an aggressive turn to try and acquire another star to help out Paul George and Gordon Hayward is on their sight range, as Zach Lowe of ESPN narrated.
"It all makes you wonder if the Pacers are one player away from being really good, and if they might be able to find that player this summer. George would love to play with hometown boy Gordon Hayward, according to sources, but that would appear unlikely."
The success of the Jazz in the playoffs could determine whether Hayward would stay or not. Aside from Indiana, Hayward's hometown team, the Boston Celtics have Brad Stevens which is Hayward's college coach also making a pitch.
Speaking of the Pacers, recently acquired George Hill has performed well for the Jazz but he is also approaching free agency. One team that truly covets his veteran presence is the New York Knicks who are likely to move on from Derrick Rose.
Ian Begley of ESPN noted that the Knicks are seeking defensive players and noted that "some top defensive players on the free-agent market include Thabo Sefolosha, Tony Allen and George Hill."
