[sammybuckeye13Participant]

I know a lot of praise has been heaped on Burks in these forums lately but I never got a chance to comment and would like to continue the dialogue. Take, for instance, this recent statistical revelation:

Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony. These are the only players who have taken more free throws than Alec Burks since the 41-game mark in the season.

Burks and Hayward are in unequally advantageous situations. While Burks essentially has the green light off the bench and little responsibility on his shoulders in terms of winning games, Hayward is unfortunately positioned as a first option and relied upon to win. He is better suited as a second or third option on offense as evidenced by his inability to create like a top-tier scorer and deferential nature (he’s 4th among SG’s in assists). In determining who is better or more valuable, one must account for the fact that Hayward is not in an ideal role, and that has hurt his efficiency tremendously.

Having considered Hayward’s unfortunate role I have nevertheless come to these two conclusions:

1) Hayward’s greatest strength is versatility, but Burks is just as versatile.

2) Alec Burks is blessed with a marketable trait, scoring, and significantly more upside, certainly in the realm of stardom.

Hayward is an athletic and active 6-8 wing capable of playing the 2, 3 and 4. What’s often omitted from the conversation here regarding the Jazz’s future is Burks’ versatility: an athletic and active 6-6 combo guard with a 6-10 wingspan and top-notch ball-handling ability — that’s how he gets to the hoop so easily and often — he is capable of playing the 1, 2 and 3. And Burks is not a scorer like Kevin Martin who MAY notch one assist per game; 2.7 APG is not bad for a backup SG. I’m not in any way saying he’s fit to run a team buzzer to buzzer, but for stretches he’s absolutely suited for the job. 

Burks is still only 22. Hayward is clearly not a first option as a scorer, and he doesn’t have to be, but Burks’ potential suggests he’s a 20 ppg guy in a starting role. He’s scored 18+ in 8 of his last 15 games and he did only played 30+ minutes in two of them. He gets to the basket and finishes nearly as well as any player in the game already. After working on his long range game this summer he could be a top scoring threat. The proof is in both his vitals and statistics: he’s big, he’s athletic, he’s quick, and man can he play. There’s a reason he was a lottery pick, and at #12, one who many thought should have gone higher. He has all the tools.

Sure Richard Jefferson is a teammate, but in an article in the Salt Lake Tribune two days ago he predicted Burks will become an elite defender. There’s no reason to disbelieve this. Burks has the length, quickness and instincts to both practically anyone he’s assigned to.

I’ll keep this article relatively brief. I’m a Jazz fan and I love Hayward. I want to keep him, especially given our handicap in luring free agents to Utah, but he’s clearly best served as a second or third scorer and it’s all too possible that the Jazz don’t get into the top 5 in this draft. I’m not saying the franchise has to choose between the two — they don’t — because Burks is still under contract for 2014-15 and if they decide they want both they can let Kanter (2-24 as a starter, or something like that) loose. I mainly wanted to highlight his potential, because as too few are noting, it is enormous. 

 

 

 

[jwall1Participant]

 I think Burks has more potential…

[jwall1Participant]

 I think Burks has more potential…

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

 i gotta say burks has gotten a LOT better as this season has gone on.

 

another thing.. gordan hayward, just cannot play the 4.

 

 

 

 

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

 i gotta say burks has gotten a LOT better as this season has gone on.

 

another thing.. gordan hayward, just cannot play the 4.

 

 

 

 

[bigblackNbeautifulParticipant]

 I think the jazz are keeeping him a secret till they re sign him. After they do that though he will exploud. 

[bigblackNbeautifulParticipant]

 I think the jazz are keeeping him a secret till they re sign him. After they do that though he will exploud. 

[LOFTYParticipant]

I cant stand Hayward. I wish we could have worked out a deal to send him to the Celtics. I think he and corbin need to go this summer.

[LOFTYParticipant]

I cant stand Hayward. I wish we could have worked out a deal to send him to the Celtics. I think he and corbin need to go this summer.

[bloodshyParticipant]

I’m not sure who is more valuable, but I also lean Burks. I agree that Burks seems to have the higher potential and Hayward seems to have the more well-rounded game. Right now I would say Hayward is the superior defender, though I think Burks has the potential to be even better than Hayward and he is clearly closing the gap as his technique improves. I agree that Burks is likely to be a 20 ppg player in the future as well. Still, it should be remembered that Hayward’s lower efficiency this year is partly due to the fact that defenses key in on his game more than they did before as he has been a primary threat. That has barely started to happen with Burks, so–as one of Burks biggest advocates–we can’t know how he will react to this inevitability until it happens.

My only critique of your post is that I think you give Burks and Hayward a little too much credit on positional versatility. Hayward is terrible at the 4 and Burks is not very good at the 3, nor is he great at the 1 when he is the exclusive facilitator. Hayward is pretty much interchangeable between 2/3 and Burks can play combo or pure 2. Outside of those parameters their efficiency drops off pretty badly.

As a fellow Jazz fan I continue to argue that Burks/Hayward should be the team’s starting 2/3. I think that would be ideal, even if Burks also fits well into the combo slot. At the end of the day, these two are very good players and the Jazz should keep both.

 

 

 

 

[bloodshyParticipant]

I’m not sure who is more valuable, but I also lean Burks. I agree that Burks seems to have the higher potential and Hayward seems to have the more well-rounded game. Right now I would say Hayward is the superior defender, though I think Burks has the potential to be even better than Hayward and he is clearly closing the gap as his technique improves. I agree that Burks is likely to be a 20 ppg player in the future as well. Still, it should be remembered that Hayward’s lower efficiency this year is partly due to the fact that defenses key in on his game more than they did before as he has been a primary threat. That has barely started to happen with Burks, so–as one of Burks biggest advocates–we can’t know how he will react to this inevitability until it happens.

My only critique of your post is that I think you give Burks and Hayward a little too much credit on positional versatility. Hayward is terrible at the 4 and Burks is not very good at the 3, nor is he great at the 1 when he is the exclusive facilitator. Hayward is pretty much interchangeable between 2/3 and Burks can play combo or pure 2. Outside of those parameters their efficiency drops off pretty badly.

As a fellow Jazz fan I continue to argue that Burks/Hayward should be the team’s starting 2/3. I think that would be ideal, even if Burks also fits well into the combo slot. At the end of the day, these two are very good players and the Jazz should keep both.

 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

 I REALLY wanted Charlotte to take Burks when he came out, he just has that star potential as a scorer that you don’t see in many 2-guards these days. 

Glad he’s getting run in Utah (finally) and I think he’ll end up the best SG of his draft class (yes, over Klay Thompson).

As an aside, I’d love to have Hayward on the Celtics.

[omphalosParticipant]

 I REALLY wanted Charlotte to take Burks when he came out, he just has that star potential as a scorer that you don’t see in many 2-guards these days. 

Glad he’s getting run in Utah (finally) and I think he’ll end up the best SG of his draft class (yes, over Klay Thompson).

As an aside, I’d love to have Hayward on the Celtics.

[bobforteParticipant]

 I think that because of the way hayward has shot during most of the season people are down on him.  His increased role plays a part of this but i don’t think he will continue to shoot like this throughout his career.  Burks is a great scorer, gets to the bucket at will and the jazz need that.  As I watch the jazz though, Hayward makes all of the plays for his team.  He isnt the pure scrorer that burks is but does everything on the court.  He has flirted with a triple double a few times and gets a lot of hockey assits.  He is a smart player and I believe if the Jazz let him go it will be a terrible mistake for this team.   

[bobforteParticipant]

 I think that because of the way hayward has shot during most of the season people are down on him.  His increased role plays a part of this but i don’t think he will continue to shoot like this throughout his career.  Burks is a great scorer, gets to the bucket at will and the jazz need that.  As I watch the jazz though, Hayward makes all of the plays for his team.  He isnt the pure scrorer that burks is but does everything on the court.  He has flirted with a triple double a few times and gets a lot of hockey assits.  He is a smart player and I believe if the Jazz let him go it will be a terrible mistake for this team.   

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

Honestly I see the Celtics trying to sign Hayward if they miss out on Carmelo. Hayward and Brad Stevens have that Butler connection and I see Danny Ainge pairing up the two in Boston. Burks is likely to become the next man up in Utah, he’ll be put in Gordon’s spot when the Celtics pry Hayward away from a Jazz team which could replace him with Parker/Wiggins/Hood/Gordon or Mcdermont in the Draft depending on where they land in the lottery.

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

Honestly I see the Celtics trying to sign Hayward if they miss out on Carmelo. Hayward and Brad Stevens have that Butler connection and I see Danny Ainge pairing up the two in Boston. Burks is likely to become the next man up in Utah, he’ll be put in Gordon’s spot when the Celtics pry Hayward away from a Jazz team which could replace him with Parker/Wiggins/Hood/Gordon or Mcdermont in the Draft depending on where they land in the lottery.

[TheLastWordParticipant]

 Well the Celts can’t really pry him away short of giving him the max. And that would hurt the Jazz because of its ascending structure more than the dollar amount. If the Celtics want Hayward the Jazz might be open to a sign and trade, but its going to cost them.

[TheLastWordParticipant]

 Well the Celts can’t really pry him away short of giving him the max. And that would hurt the Jazz because of its ascending structure more than the dollar amount. If the Celtics want Hayward the Jazz might be open to a sign and trade, but its going to cost them.

[omphalosParticipant]

 I think if the Jazz get Jabari Parker in the draft somehow then Hayward is as good as gone.

[omphalosParticipant]

 I think if the Jazz get Jabari Parker in the draft somehow then Hayward is as good as gone.

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