SALT LAKE CITY — Not even playing on a championship contender with an All-Star point guard, arguably the most dynamic at his position, was enough to keep Kevin Durant from fleeing westward.

Durant created his own personal fireworks show on July 4, stunning the NBA with his decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead of remaining the best player on his team, Durant chose to be a part of the All-Star assemblage of talent with the Golden State Warriors.

Besides decimating the Thunder’s title hopes, Durant’s decision also has to make more than a few NBA teams nervous. If a player of Durant’s caliber can leave a winning situation, then anybody is fair game.

As it pertains to the Jazz, the team’s best player is a matter of concern. One year from now, Gordon Hayward has the choice to opt of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.

The seventh-year forward will make $16,073,140 for the upcoming season. As crazy as it may appear, Hayward likely will command a much bigger salary if — which is practically a given — as expected he has another solid season and hits the open market officially next July 1.

Without question, numerous teams would want to sign him. Keep in mind, the Memphis Grizzlies this week have agreed to a five-year, $153 million contract to point guard Mike Conley, whose career averages are 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

Already, months before the season even starts, reports on Twitter indicate Hayward might be interested in leaving. His college coach at Butler, Brad Stevens, now coaches the Boston Celtics, who have moved up the Eastern Conference standings in recent seasons.

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The NBA Free Agency frenzy has lived up to the hype after seeing a dramatic increase in the league’s salary cap. With the league adding $24 million to the salary cap, the majority of the league’s teams have had more money to spend than they know what to do with. Early on, the Jazz appear to have spent wisely. Not every team has fared so well.

In time, Hayward will have to make a decision. Does he stay with his original team or take the Durant route?

No wonder Lindsey is working hard to supplement Hayward's talent with a better roster.

“Is there anything less attractive to be insecure about a relationship,” said Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey.

“As far as the competition goes for all our players’ services, bring it on. We’re not going to run from that.”

Lindsey quickly rebuted any thought the Jazz are trying to trade Hayward and that he wants out now. “Unequivocally no” is the answer Lindsey gave immediately when asked if Hayward or any representative has asked for a trade recently.

In an odd way, Lindsey said, the Twitter report actually helped improve the relationship between the Jazz and Hayward. At the request of Hayward’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, Lindsey and coach Quin Snyder met with Hayward to make sure there was no misunderstanding between the management and player.

Incidentally, at the time of the meeting, Hayward was working out at the Jazz practice facility. When the meeting ended “Quin and I got a big sweaty hug (from Hayward),” Lindsey said. “It was all good.”

With a young daughter and a wife expecting another child, Hayward is spending a good portion of the summer in Utah. He’s given every indication that his future will include playing for the Jazz.

In the end, it may come down to the team’s ability to win enough games to make the playoffs next season. To that end, Lindsey has gone away from the youth movement by acquiring veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw.

The acquisitions combined with improved health and internal development should help the Jazz secure one of the eight playoff spots in the Western Conference.

“I’ve grown up here in Utah and grown up around this organization. They’ve treated me the right way and it’s been awesome,” Hayward said the afternoon after last season ended.

“The people that we have here are tremendous. I haven’t necessarily been around league, but I’ve talked to enough people to know that it’s not necessarily like that other places. It makes it easy to be happy here.”

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