Jazz Spotlight, Week 4: Gordon Hayward

[Xsy]

Alright, gonna try to keep these on schedule from now on. On to week four!

Gordon Hayward. I love Gordon Hayward. Utah loves Gordon Hayward. The kid from Butler was met with jeers from ESA, and was the most underrated player on the Jazz coming into the season. By the end of the season, he changed the haters into lovers, and quickly became the most overrated player wearing a Jazz uniform.



Now don't get me wrong, we have good reason to be optimistic. Gordon Hayward surprised a lot of the haters right from the beginning, with flashes of unrealized athleticism, and displaying amazing basketball IQ. He had his fair share of rookie jitters, dumb mistakes, and even collected a handful of DNP's. But the evolution of Hayward that blossomed in front of our very eyes... well, it was the brightest spot on our bleak season.

He was on fire for what seemed like the entire month of April, hitting three career highs within the last six games of the season. In April, Hayward played 7 games, averaging 35mpg, 16.4ppg, while shooting .581 from the field, and .571 from the 3. This streak even included a rare win at Staple's Center against the Lakers. The only thing worse than Jerry Sloan retiring mid season was the fact that we couldn't see Gordon Hayward light it up in the playoffs while he was still hot.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K6w5DnKdfw[/youtube]

Whether or not he starts the new season the way he ended the old season, only time will tell. The one thing we can hope for, though, is consistency. Something that we've been waiting CJ to develop for far too long.


So let's talk, RealGM. What do you think Hayward has in store for this franchise?

[StocktonShorts]

I hope Kobe is right and he becomes a "more athletic Jeff Hornacek."

And I think your opening statement is spot on:

The kid from Butler was met with jeers from ESA, and was the most underrated player on the Jazz coming into the season. By the end of the season, he changed the haters into lovers, and quickly became the most overrated player wearing a Jazz uniform.

[jazzfan1971]

He sure was hot to end the season. Not sure, well no, I am sure he wont stay that hot for his career. But, if he's consistantly warm that'll be fine.

What impressed me was his defense and passing really. We were running the offense through Hayward there at the end of the season and it was working terrific. Then his defense was at least average for a SG. Not Wesley Matthews good, but, not Kyle Korver bad either. At the very least average. A pleasant surprise.

I think he's a better defender than Mike Dunleavy Jr, a guy he was widely compared to.

I think he's a keeper. I don't know that he'll ever be an All-Star or not, but, I think he'll be a good starter at his position for the Jazz at the least and who knows how good he can become? For now I'll say a better defending Mike Dunleavy Jr. is my best guess.

[Soul Patch]

I think he'll be a great third option on the team without a any weakness in his game. Which is exactly what we need with our collection of big guys.

[countrybama24]

STILL so underrated by the media / most "experts"

[erudite23]

FYI he came in at 220 in the rankings that ESPN is running for all NBA players. That would make him the 2nd guy off the bench on some teams. Sounds about right.


I think we need to keep a tight rein on our optimism with Gordo. I think he has a chance to be the type of player that is invaluable to a championship team, but I don't ever see him being one of the main cogs. Realistically, I think he's a 12.5/4/4 guy who will move the ball and find open guys, make the smart play and light defenses up when they double your star(s). But I can't see him being that much of a creator on offense, and I don't think he will be a good enough rebounder or defender to make a big time impact outside of his offensive skills. So I'm thinking a very good 4th or 5th guy on the right team, which is a quality player and nothing to turn your nose up at, but he shouldn't be considered untouchable at any point in time, and if we can flip him as a part of a package for a legitimate franchise guy, you do it without thinking twice.

I like him a lot, and I'm prepared to eat crow after being so disappointed with the draft pick, but we shouldn't fall into the trap that other teams' fans fall into when they get a decent young guy and think he's waaaaay better than he really is *coughPortlandcough* ....

[jazzfan1971]

I'm wondering where Mike DUnleavy Jr. landed on that list now.

[d-will8]

I think we need to keep a tight rein on our optimism with Gordo. I think he has a chance to be the type of player that is invaluable to a championship team, but I don't ever see him being one of the main cogs. Realistically, I think he's a 12.5/4/4 guy who will move the ball and find open guys, make the smart play and light defenses up when they double your star(s). But I can't see him being that much of a creator on offense, and I don't think he will be a good enough rebounder or defender to make a big time impact outside of his offensive skills. So I'm thinking a very good 4th or 5th guy on the right team, which is a quality player and nothing to turn your nose up at, but he shouldn't be considered untouchable at any point in time, and if we can flip him as a part of a package for a legitimate franchise guy, you do it without thinking twice.

I like him a lot, and I'm prepared to eat crow after being so disappointed with the draft pick, but we shouldn't fall into the trap that other teams' fans fall into when they get a decent young guy and think he's waaaaay better than he really is *coughPortlandcough* ....

I think Hayward's scoring average could be closer to 15 PPG in his prime, but I generally agree with you. I got really excited about Hayward at the end of the season when he had a few good games, but now that I've had some time to pull back and look at him and his potential more objectively, I think that I got a bit carried away.

Though he has some definite similarities to Ginobili in terms of the way he plays and moves, it's pretty unrealistic to expect him to be even close to that good. He's a lot more likely to end up being a Mike Miller type (maybe a little better, maybe a little worse, but in the same basic range). At best, I think he's a solid 3rd guy on a good team, but somewhere between 4th and 5th is probably the most realistic projection.

[Pacersike]

For now I'll say a better defending Mike Dunleavy Jr. is my best guess.

I agree.

As much as important, I think he is also a more confident version of him.

[jazzfan1971]

Crap, I guess i have to adjust my opinon of Pacer fans up again now.

[Pacersike]

Yeah, we do have some smart fans. Many of them are on vacation though

[reapaman]

I believe he will have a career like Miller Miller. I would say he may be a tab bit more like Mike Dunleavy but Dunleavy can be a real bum sometimes so I'll stick with Mike Miller. There all close so it don't matter. Hayward can be a solid starter in the right situation or good sixth man because he can do a bit of everything.

If things go as plan, I can see him having a 17/5/4 season in his prime and I think his career average will ultimately be 11/4/3. Realistically he will probably be traded before his rookie contract is up. Nothing to do with him specifically. I think we did the research where for 00' to 07' (with 03 being the exception) at least half of the lottery picks in each draft class were traded before their rookie contract is up (or not re-signed). The ones not traded were usually a top 3 option on their team, which he most likely won't be. Plus he's a hot commodity because of his skill set so we could get something good for him.

[The59Sound]

There is zero chance of him being traded before his rookie contract is up. That's your prediction for everyone.

[Catchall]

He's the type of player that's worth keeping though imo. He plays defense, makes passes, makes plays... He seems like a good glue guy even if there are more explosive players on the floor.

[Xsy]

Yeah, I see Hayward in Utah for the long run. He'll leave Utah if he can earn a salary that Utah can't afford, but other than that, he's what the Jazz organization is looking for.

[Maneesh]

I believe he will have a career like Miller Miller. I would say he may be a tab bit more like Mike Dunleavy but Dunleavy can be a real bum sometimes so I'll stick with Mike Miller. There all close so it don't matter. Hayward can be a solid starter in the right situation or good sixth man because he can do a bit of everything.

If things go as plan, I can see him having a 17/5/4 season in his prime and I think his career average will ultimately be 11/4/3. Realistically he will probably be traded before his rookie contract is up. Nothing to do with him specifically. I think we did the research where for 00' to 07' (with 03 being the exception) at least half of the lottery picks in each draft class were traded before their rookie contract is up (or not re-signed). The ones not traded were usually a top 3 option on their team, which he most likely won't be. Plus he's a hot commodity because of his skill set so we could get something good for him.

I say sorry to start reapaman. I think nothing you say about Hayward right. Jazz never trade so soon. He is not main hero, but he may be one day. We not give up so soon now Jerry is gone. I like gh to be a more healthy mike miller too, I think better though.

[3960HOOD]

Do Hayward's basketball skills only compare to other white guys?
Kiki Vandeweghe? Wally Szcerbiak?

[babyjax13]

I still will site Tayshaun Prince.

[BarneyGumble]

I was starting to jump onto the Hayward bandwagon until I found out he is playing video games full-time during the lock out. The last thing we need is more talent, wasted by hours in front of a stupid video game instead of working on their basketball game.... Kirilenko was a top 15 player in the league before he discover World of Warcraft.....

Now he has the worst tattoo in league history, even worse than Greg Ostertag's Fred Flinstone

[The59Sound]

I was starting to jump onto the Hayward bandwagon until I found out he is playing video games full-time during the lock out. The last thing we need is more talent, wasted by hours in front of a stupid video game instead of working on their basketball game.... Kirilenko was a top 15 player in the league before he discover World of Warcraft.....

Now he has the worst tattoo in league history, even worse than Greg Ostertag's Fred Flinstone

In fairness, reports are that he's been working his ass off to improve. I think the fact that he used to eat by himself all the time at Olive Garden last season tells us that he's grasping at straws in his leisure time...