[NCarmean18Participant]

 It’s late in the summer and the big name free agents have all signed.  This is the time of the year whenever this forum gets pretty dull, so I figured I might as well talk about some players I like over the next few days.  The first one I would like to talk about is Gordon Hayward.  What does the forum think of him for this upcoming season?

To me, he took huge strides last season and I think he is going to continue to get better.  He plays with a lot of heart.  He is always out there trying, and he always gives 100% on the floor.  That’s one of the main reasons I like him.  Even though he lacks elite athleticism, I witnessed him chase down offensive players for some pretty vicious blocks, and I also witnessed him dunk the ball as much as he could.  

He just looks like he loves to play the game of basketball, and those are the type of NBA players that I like.  He isn’t doing it for the money, but for the fun of the game.  

So, I’d like to ask you guys what you think about Hayward?  Will he have a career year this year as a starting small forward for the Utah Jazz?  What do you think his statline has the potential to be this year?

I will admit that he had a horrid performance in the postseason last year.  However, he is young, and still getting the hang of the NBA.  I see a bright future for Gordon Hayward. 

[Andrew1984Participant]

I am extremely high on Gordon Hayward, I’ve been for four years now, and not just because I’ve been a Butler Bulldogs fan since I was a kid (I started following their basketball program when I found out that Hoosiers was filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse).

Hayward is the type of player who does everything well. As a rookie his month of April was excellent, he scored in the 30s a few times and made a big splash. He really struggled to start out the year last year, maybe due to the coaching change and the lockout, but once he got consistent minutes, he was productive.

His basketball IQ is through the roof. He handles the ball really well. He has great vision. He can shoot off the dribble or off the catch. He has surprisingly explosiveness and athleticism. He has a great left hand. He’s always balanced and under control. He’s a long, smart defender. You can tell he’s been in the weightroom a lot.

I’m not sure he’ll ever be an All-Star or one of the league’s premiere players, but he’ll be one of those players who contributes in every category, makes winning plays, never has any character or off-the-court issues, and just really, really helps his team in ways that are hard to measure. I think he’ll be one of the most well-rounded, versatile players in the league before too long.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I Love Hayward’s game..I think he plays better when he’s at shooting guard,he’s had some very good games against Kobe and the Lakers playing at the 2..He’s a good shooter,competitive,good ball handler and passer,rarely turns it over..He’s tough,but he has to get stronger..He increased his scoring from 5 pts to 11 pts a game and i expect to see him increase those numbers this season..He’ll never be a franchise player or a superstar..But he’s a valuable pice any team would love to have on their team…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Everything that I was going to write has already been written in this thread. Damn near word for word.

I’m a big supporter… Have been since the summer before his senior year of high school. I was probably the first user on this site who wrote he’d be a first round pick and have a chance at lottery. I got into a lot of debates on this site about Hayward because he had a lot of doubters. A lot of negativity and criticism.

I’m happy to see he’s changing minds. He’s a very good player, who’s game will continue to grow with added strength and confidence in his ability.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

He needs to drive more to set up other players and to open up his shot. Been high on him since college. Needs to be even more consistant with his J.

[bloodshyParticipant]

I’ve watched almost all of his games as a pro (Jazz fan), so I’ve spent plenty of time analyzing his game. 

Athleticism: He is highly athletic, despite "average athlete" reputation.  He is very fast in every direction and can really jump.  His wingspan is just 6’8, which limits him, but his speed helps.

Defense:  His wingspan stops him from being a Pippen-type defender.  However, vs. smaller players, his D can be intense.  He’s fast enough to stay with some 1s, most 2s and his defensive instincts are well developed.  I think he is already an upper-tier defender and he has the ability to be elite.

Shooting: Last year he was an average shooter.  During his rookie year he shot the 3-ball at nearly 50% after the all-star break.  Because of the mixed results, I’m unsure of how good he’ll be over his career.  After his rookie season I thought he could become a Hornacek type of shooter.  After last year, I’m thinking his upside is 40% from deep and 80% at the stripe over the course of a season.  There’s really not enough data to know yet.

Handles: Good enough to be a starting 1 in the NBA.  Seriously.  Overall, his game isn’t developed for the 1, but his handles are very impressive for a 6’8 player.

Position: Hayward can play 1-3.  He played the 1 in high school and played a point forward role in college.  Right now he’s best as a 2.  He can do everything a 2 needs to do–shoot, slash, pass–and is an intense defender vs. opposing 2s.  His defense is not as elite vs. 3s–he’s really at his best on the perimeter vs. players that are smaller than him.  This is true on O and D.  He has the handles to deal with elite 2s who try to defend him and his size gives them problems.  Likewise, his speed is adequate for 2s on D and he seems to take advantage of the smaller players he guards.  Moreover, he’s not great in post-up situations or as a rebounder, which pushes him away from the forward roles.

It’s tough to say what Hayward will become.  I think he has the potential to be a second string all-star and the second best player on a Jazz team that could become a contender in a couple of years.  Most players never reach their potential unfortunately.  A more likely scenario is that Hayward is the 2nd or 3rd best player on the Jazz averaging around 15/3/5, which is still a very solid contributor, but probably not an all star.

[stifler101Participant]

I agree wholeheartedly with RUDEBOY on Hayward.  I think the Jazz should trot out a starting lineup of Jefferson, Millsap, Marvin Williams, Hayward, and Mo Williams.  Then, you have Foye, Favor, Kanter, and Burks off the bench I really like that team.  The bottom of the West is going to be a real dogfight between Dallas, Utah, Minnesota, and Golden State fighting for the last 2 spots

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

 hayward is a very solid nba starting 2 and he can get by as a 3 if needed i got him being a solid 15 pt 4 too 5 boards and also 4 too 5 ass a game guy may even get an all star nod or 2 

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