[sammybuckeye13Participant]

So, I had TWO separate arguments today about Gordon Hayward’s future. Neither guy thought he’d be out of the league, but like just about everyone this season, they weren’t very high on him, especially given his draft standing.

I don’t think he’ll be an All-Star, but I guess I’m higher on him than most. The main argument then became, with AK coming off the books and potentially wanting to sign with a contender or a team willing to pay more for him/not a rebuilding team, should Hayward be a starter next season? Or do they stick in C.J. or a re-signed AK? I strongly voted starter.

Why?

Hayward was a totally different player under Corbin. In April, which albeit is just a 7-game month, his line was:

16.4 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.9 spg, 58.1% FG, 57.1% 3PT, 77.3% FT, 35.9 minutes. He also had some major highlights in April, such as holding Kobe to 6-18 shooting in a 1-point Jazz win when he scored 22, and scoring 34 in the season finale against Denver.

At the end of the year he really started to come around. He finished the season as a 47% shooter from 3 (one of the biggest question marks was would he rebound from a terrible shooting season at Butler), and shot 52% in May and 57% from range in April, unheard of numbers, and he was taking them fairly frequently. Throughout the year he played with great aggressiveness on D, and started to play with that same agressiveness at the end of the year.

Hayward right now is only looking more and more promising. He’s a legit 6-8 wing with surprising athleticism, a great motor, is a strong competitor and a winner with top-notch scoring instincts, which he demonstrated at Butler and then later in the season with more PT. If he continues to shoot the three ball like he did at the end of the season, you have to wonder what his ceiling might be (I’m not talking superstar, but potential-fulfilling wing talent). He will also play most of this season at just age 21, not turning 22 until late March.

What do you guys think? Should the Jazz do what they did in late March/April and throw him in there and allow him to play like he did? Or was that a fluke and should they continue to bring him on more slowly? I would vote, let’s continue to see what he can do. If you think he’s ready to take on 30+ minutes again, what do you think he can be down the road? What’s the verdict?

[no skillsParticipant]

i like hayward. i think he should get some good play time in and grow.

[no skillsParticipant]

i like hayward. i think he should get some good play time in and grow.

[scliddiardParticipant]

sammy: The Jazz FO & coaches really like Hayward and think he is their 2 of the future, at least that has been their position when talking about him since the end of last yr. The drafting of Burks may mean they will push him  to the 3 spot but they like him at the 2. He is tall, long and athletic enough to play the 2 and that gives the Jazz the advantage when he plays the 2. Depending on  who the Jazz pick up in free agency, Hayward very likely will start the season as the starting 2 and CJ as the starting 3. Those two could flip flop but most conversations about Hayward had him at the 2.  CJ wants to be the starting 2 when the season starts, so we’ll see what happens.  IMO Hayward definitely has the potential to be an allstar, he has a complete , all around game, he’s aggressive, has good handles, is a good passer, sees the floor well,  is a good shooter, drives to the hole hard, he has the intangibles that make him a player you love to have on the floor.  I think he will have a break out yr this coming yr , if we have a season.

[scliddiardParticipant]

sammy: The Jazz FO & coaches really like Hayward and think he is their 2 of the future, at least that has been their position when talking about him since the end of last yr. The drafting of Burks may mean they will push him  to the 3 spot but they like him at the 2. He is tall, long and athletic enough to play the 2 and that gives the Jazz the advantage when he plays the 2. Depending on  who the Jazz pick up in free agency, Hayward very likely will start the season as the starting 2 and CJ as the starting 3. Those two could flip flop but most conversations about Hayward had him at the 2.  CJ wants to be the starting 2 when the season starts, so we’ll see what happens.  IMO Hayward definitely has the potential to be an allstar, he has a complete , all around game, he’s aggressive, has good handles, is a good passer, sees the floor well,  is a good shooter, drives to the hole hard, he has the intangibles that make him a player you love to have on the floor.  I think he will have a break out yr this coming yr , if we have a season.

[juves4783Participant]

i think utah is really starting to put together a good young, competitive squad.  you got guys that have played major minutes in jefferson, milsap, miles and harris and guys with potential in kanter, favors, hayward and burks.  this team might be a tough squad in a year or two.

[juves4783Participant]

i think utah is really starting to put together a good young, competitive squad.  you got guys that have played major minutes in jefferson, milsap, miles and harris and guys with potential in kanter, favors, hayward and burks.  this team might be a tough squad in a year or two.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The BIG knock I’ve always had on Gordon since high school was being aggressive offensively. He’s a lot better than he thinks.

He’s a better athlete than people think. I was at the Pacers game when he took it coast to coast and threw it down over Paul George with the left. He’s a better defender than people think. He competes. He rebounds well. He shoots it well. His fundamentals are great. Good passer with good vision. And he does have some point forward ability. He’s always had great intangibles. And he looks like he’s getting bigger everytime I see him. His work ethic is great.

I’d start him.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The BIG knock I’ve always had on Gordon since high school was being aggressive offensively. He’s a lot better than he thinks.

He’s a better athlete than people think. I was at the Pacers game when he took it coast to coast and threw it down over Paul George with the left. He’s a better defender than people think. He competes. He rebounds well. He shoots it well. His fundamentals are great. Good passer with good vision. And he does have some point forward ability. He’s always had great intangibles. And he looks like he’s getting bigger everytime I see him. His work ethic is great.

I’d start him.

[BloodyCrumpetParticipant]

 He’s an unbelievably better defender than people give him credit for. Coming out of school, I thought his biggest weaknesses were his athleticism and footspeed and I was flat-out wrong.

Interesting stat: during the 2009-2010 basketball season, Gordon Hayward only allowed his man to score .59 points per possession. That is amazing.

Hayward is tough, smart and hard-working. He’s a pure shooter, an intuitive passer and a strong finisher around the rim. His potential is through the roof.

And there was an excess of people who were writing him off before he was even drafted. In fact, the only big supporter of Hayward that I remember was IndianaBasketball.

[BloodyCrumpetParticipant]

 He’s an unbelievably better defender than people give him credit for. Coming out of school, I thought his biggest weaknesses were his athleticism and footspeed and I was flat-out wrong.

Interesting stat: during the 2009-2010 basketball season, Gordon Hayward only allowed his man to score .59 points per possession. That is amazing.

Hayward is tough, smart and hard-working. He’s a pure shooter, an intuitive passer and a strong finisher around the rim. His potential is through the roof.

And there was an excess of people who were writing him off before he was even drafted. In fact, the only big supporter of Hayward that I remember was IndianaBasketball.

[kobyzParticipant]

i think Gordon Hayward is a mirror image as a player to John Salmons…

[kobyzParticipant]

i think Gordon Hayward is a mirror image as a player to John Salmons…

[BloodyCrumpetParticipant]

It’s a shame we never really got to see Hayward and Kirilenko working together on the wing. They are ultimate team players that both make their teammates better and slow down the opposition.

CJ Miles and Alec Burks can be quality role-players, but I don’t think either one of the two is a starter on a really good team. Raja Bell is an excellent mentor, but his effectiveness on the offensive end is extremely limited when he’s having a bad-shooting night, which was quite often last season.

[BloodyCrumpetParticipant]

It’s a shame we never really got to see Hayward and Kirilenko working together on the wing. They are ultimate team players that both make their teammates better and slow down the opposition.

CJ Miles and Alec Burks can be quality role-players, but I don’t think either one of the two is a starter on a really good team. Raja Bell is an excellent mentor, but his effectiveness on the offensive end is extremely limited when he’s having a bad-shooting night, which was quite often last season.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Hayward is the anti-Salmons lol. Salmons is a ball stopper and has never seen a shot he doesn’t like. That’s not Hayward. Two completely different players.

Hayward is going to have a good sophomore season. I got to watch him during a few training sessions not too long ago and he doesn’t even look the same physically. He’s bulked up and is playing like it too. I don’t think he’ll be struggling to get free and moving through/around screens as much as he did during his rookie season.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Hayward is the anti-Salmons lol. Salmons is a ball stopper and has never seen a shot he doesn’t like. That’s not Hayward. Two completely different players.

Hayward is going to have a good sophomore season. I got to watch him during a few training sessions not too long ago and he doesn’t even look the same physically. He’s bulked up and is playing like it too. I don’t think he’ll be struggling to get free and moving through/around screens as much as he did during his rookie season.

[JNixonParticipant]

I think Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward will make a good wing combo, although Burks has work to do so he doesn’t hit the rookie wall or not get better, by building strength and working on his jump shot.

I do think Hayward will improve a very good bit next season too. I never expected much from him as a rookie because he wasn’t strong enough and his game was a little too unpolished, but I do think he can be a good role player in time. He’s more athletic than he’s credited for, but he has to continue to polish up his promising all-around game which likely will come in time.

[JNixonParticipant]

I think Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward will make a good wing combo, although Burks has work to do so he doesn’t hit the rookie wall or not get better, by building strength and working on his jump shot.

I do think Hayward will improve a very good bit next season too. I never expected much from him as a rookie because he wasn’t strong enough and his game was a little too unpolished, but I do think he can be a good role player in time. He’s more athletic than he’s credited for, but he has to continue to polish up his promising all-around game which likely will come in time.

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