Utah Jazz extend qualifying offer to Gordon Hayward

The Utah Jazz have extended a qualifying offer to Gordon Hayward, meaning that they can now match any offer made to him by another team.

The move makes Hayward a restricted free agent, allowing Utah to maintain a tight grip on the player despite his place on the market.

Hayward was a key performer for Utah last season, with the small forward averaging 16.2 points, as well as having seven games with double-digit rebounds and six with double-digit assists.

Hayward originally joined the Jazz as a Draft pick in 2010.