HammerDunk wrote:Then you're overvaluing what Hornacek did. I could see Hayward, at his peak, putting up Horny type numbers, with 4-5 extra inches of height. 13-15ppg, 4apg, 3rpg, 1.5spg, 48%/40%/90% are all within his potential imo. Miles may also be getting nearer those numbers this season, he also has that potential.
I'm not guaranteeing that he will do that well, but it is a definite possibility, or at least as much of a possibility as we have to land someone here that will do that immediately. I find it interesting that you are already writing him off as a non-legit NBA player. I see it going either way and am certainly not willing to put any kind of confidence behind either possibility. He seems to have the work ethic to make what he has work well for him.
Don't forget, we have Millsap and AK (contract year). They are both very much a big time third option threat.
Hornacek was past his prime in Utah, but he could go back to prime playing style often in the playoffs. I don't see Hayward getting to Jazz Hornacek level, just because he'd have to be such an impressive shooter to make it happen.
Let me be clear about Hayward, since I'm am rather negative. I think he's going to be a great role player, especially in a Jazz system. But I think he's very limited. I've been drawing the line at 3rd option: I don't think he'll ever be one on a contender. I should say third best player instead of third option to be more accurate.
If we could take peak AK and add him to the roster, he could do it with Williams and Jefferson in the next three years. I don't see him returning to 5x5 form. He's extremely important to us now, but he can't be the difference in winning a title. I see Millsap as a 6th man that plays 30 minutes a night. If he's your third best player, I don't think you're winning it.
An easier distinction to make would be the all-star distinction. If we can get a player who is playing at all star level in the next three years (and Deron and Al are healthy and at expected all star level), then I think we'll have a legit shot at the title. So who's going to be that third all-star in the next three years? imo, not hayward, not millsap, not kirilenko. We probably have to outsource or draft lucky next year. I've been wrong about potential before, but I'm not seeing it with guys on the current roster. (But I still think we're at least a second round playoff team.)
In '03-'04, Jerry Sloan coached the ESPN predicted "worst team of all time" to 42-40.
