Steve Mason backed "Garden for Gordon" raising money to lure in Gordon Hayward with breadsticks

.@GardenforGordon has raised $112 toward getting @gordonhayward unlimited @olivegarden if he signs with the #Lakers: https://t.co/BKU5o8fjqL

— Steve Mason (@VeniceMase) May 10, 2017

With the promise of harnessing the power of unlimited breadsticks to lure Utah's All-Star power forward to the Lakers, a group of enterprising fans heeded the call of ESPN LA's Steve Mason and started a GoFundMe site preying on Gordon Hayward's love of Olive Garden. Hawyard can opt-out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 7 year vet has seen his statistics improve every season of his career. This year, after working out for a week with Kobe in Newport Beach, he became a 1st time All-Star.

Utah's KSL.com broke down the varied salary options facing Hayward this summer. To make things equal, I'm going to show how much he can make over a 3 year period. He could, of course, sign for a maximum of 6 years with the Jazz vs a maximum of 4 years for any other team.

• Opt-in and make $16.7m with the Jazz next season. Hayward could choose this path if he doesn't make the All-NBA list this season and thinks he has a shot at it next season -- a highly unlikely outcome given his other options
• If he makes one of the three All-NBA lists, he could opt-out and re-sign with the Jazz for the Designated Player Contract at 35% of the salary cap - $35.35m to start with 8% annual raises. 3 year total: $114.8m
• If he doesn't make All-NBA, Hayward could still opt-out and re-sign with the Jazz at the 30% max with 8% raises - $30.3m. 3 year total: $98.4m
• Opt-Out and sign a 4-year max deal (3+1) with another team at 30% of the cap with 5% raises - $30.3m to start. 3 year total: $95.52m

If he doesn't make the All-NBA team, Hayward would only be giving up $2.9m over 3 years to move out of Utah for LaLa Land -- a sum he could assuredly make back in endorsements once becoming a beloved player in the nation's 2nd largest media market. As long as he is playing at an elite level 3 years from now, he can then re-sign for the 10-year super max deal with 8% raises.

How could the Lakers carve out enough cap space to even offer Hayward the $30.3m max? They'd have to part with one fan favorite and hope for a co-operative Swaggy-P:

• Nick Young Opts-Out: $5.7m
• Waive Tarik Black: $5.7m
• Trade Brewer's final year for the 2x 2nd Round picks we got from Chicago: $7.6m

"If logistically possible, funds will be refunded to contributors. If not, funds will be donated to a local LA food bank."