12-30-2019, 05:40 AM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets are going all out to sign restricted free agent Gordon Hayward. The Hornets have agreed on a maximum offer sheet with Hayward that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years, a person close to with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs. The person commented to the AP on condition of anonymity because Hayward cant officially sign the offer sheet until Thursday when the league lifts its moratorium on signing free agents. The Charlotte Observer was the first to report the news. Williams spent the last two seasons with Utah after six years with the Atlanta Hawks. He started 50 games last season for the Jazz and averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. The person also said the Hornets have spoken to representatives for free agents Marvin Williams and Brian Roberts and will meet with them later this week. Williams would give the Hornets another option at forward and Roberts would fill the backup point guard spot behind Kemba Walker. Its unclear at this point if the Jazz would match the offer to keep Hayward or consider a sign-and-trade with Charlotte. Hayward, who visited with the Hornets this week, averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals last season for Utah. Hayward has spent all four seasons in the NBA with the Jazz. He shot 41.3 per cent from the field and 30 per cent from 3-point range in 77 starts. Haywards offensive production has increased with each season in the league, going from 5.4 points per game as a rookie to 11.8 in 2011 and 14.1 in 2012. If the Hornets are able to land Hayward, its unclear what that might mean for small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or shooting guard Gerald Henderson. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Hayward is capable of playing both positions. Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, is considered a strong defender but trying to revamp a hitch in his jump shot. Henderson hasnt emerged as a dominant shooter as the team hoped when they signed him to a three-year, $18 million contract extension last year. The Hornets are high on small forward Jeff Taylor, their second-round pick in 2012, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Hayward played his first three seasons in the league with centre Al Jefferson, who became the focal point of Charlottes offence last year and earned third-team All-NBA honours. After a slow start in free agency, the Hornets are picking up the pace. The 6-foot-9, 237-pound Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft, played at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels win a national championship as a freshman and could be a backup option if they dont land Hayward. Roberts has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans. He started 42 games last season averaging 9.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 94 per cent from the free-throw line. Korbinian Holzer Jersey . -- One shot came out of bottom of a cactus, the other from the base of a desert bush with rocks scattered around it. Nick Ritchie Jersey . According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. https://www.cheapducks.com/ . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. Brendan Guhle Jersey . 1 status and was unable to prevent a late season collapse, James Reimer said he wants to put the past behind him and is looking forward to spending the next two years in a Maple Leaf uniform. Sergei Fedorov Jersey .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.ROME - AC Milans winless streak stretched to four matches following a 2-2 draw at third-place Sampdoria in Serie A on Saturday, although the Rossoneri could at least celebrate promising young forward Stephan El Shaarawy breaking his scoring drought.El Shaarawy put Milan ahead in the 10th minute with his first goal in two seasons. Stefano Okaka scored for Sampdoria just before halftime and Brazilian forward Eder put the hosts ahead in the 51st. Jeremy Menez equalized for Milan with a penalty in the 65th.My legs felt good tonight, El Shaarawy said. I was happy to score a goal but I would have preferred a victory. That would have boosted our confidence and put us back on track. But at least we were able to come back in the second half. So its a solid point earned. Well take the positives and move on.Milan ended with 10 men after defender Daniele Bonera picked up a second yellow card in the 85th.It was a great game. Both squads played to win, said Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, who used to do battle with Milan counterpart Filippo Inzaghi when the pair played for the two Milan clubs.Sampdoria, which has lost just once this season, moved within two points of second-place Roma, which hosts Torino on Sunday. Juventus, which meets Parma, leads Roma by three points.Milan, which has won just four of 11 matches, is eight points off the lead in seventh.Up next for Milan is the derby with Inter in two weeks.Im very, very satisfied. Im only disappointed because we deserved to win, Inzaghi said. We need to focus on improving match by match.Earlier, Sassuolo stretched its unbeaten streak to five matches by drawing 0-0 with visiting Atalanta in a matchup of two squads in the lower half of the table.Milan was coming off a devastating 2-0 loss at home to Palermo and things were looking up when El Shaarawy finished off a counterattack by firing in an angled shot from just beyond the area inside the far post and beyond the reach of Argentinas World Cup final goalkeeper Sergio Romero.The 22-year-olld El Shaarawy last scored in February 2013, in the Milan derby, having been slowed by injuries last season.ddddddddddddThe son of an Egyptian father and an Italian mother, El Shaarawy scored a league-best 14 goals in the first half of 2012-13, then struggled once Mario Balotelli arrived midway through that campaign and became Milans focal point in attack.Now healthy again and with Balotelli having departed to Liverpool, El Shaarawy is returning to form — and could be called up for Italys key European Championship qualifier against Croatia next weekend.El Shaarawy was a member of Italys squad at last years Confederations Cup then didnt make the World Cup squad.Theres no discussing his talent, Inzaghi said. Tonight he scored a great goal.Okaka, a 25-year-old son of Nigerian immigrants who played for Italys youth squads, also put himself on display for Azzurri coach Antonio Conte, who attended the match at Luigi Ferraris stadium.Showing off his athleticism, Okaka used the tip of his foot to beat Bonera to a cross and redirect the ball past Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez.Shortly into the second half, Eder tapped in a rebound of a header from Pedro Obiang that bounced off the post following a corner.It was a league-best eighth set-piece goal of the season for Sampdoria.Inzaghi brought on Fernando Torres for the ineffective Keisuke Honda in the 59th and five minutes later Djamel Mesbah fouled Giacomo Bonaventura to set up Menezs penalty.Bonera picked up his second yellow for obstructing Okaka just outside the area and Lopez did well to stop a blistering effort from Roberto Soriano in the 90th.Earlier in Reggio Emilia, the closest either side came to scoring was when Atalantas Cristian Raimondi headed off the post in the 72nd.Sassuolo has won two and drawn three in its last five games, including a 1-1 draw with Juventus.Atalanta has scored only four goals in 11 matches, the low mark in Europes five major leagues.___Andrew Dampf can be followed at http://www.twitter.com/asdampf ' ' '