Utah Needs to Build Around Gordon Hayward
This has been a season to forget for the Utah Jazz. The former powers of the Northwest division find themselves in last place with a record of 16-31. The Jazz are in 14th place in the playoff race in the Western Conference. The Jazz are 21 games behind first place Oklahoma City.
However, through all the darkness there is one bright spot and that is Gordon Hayward. Utah has to do all it can to keep Hayward during the offseason. The former star at Butler will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and the risk of him leaving the team is real.
Hayward is enjoying career highs in points per game with 17, in rebounds with 5.5 per game and in assists with 4.9 per game.
Phoenix has expressed interest, as Jeff Hornacek is an assistant. Hayward has said having a talent former shooter like Hornacek would help his game as he could learn a lot from the former All-Star.
Playing on a team with a familiar coach would also be enticing. Boston is another possible destination for Hayward. Brad Stevens coaches the Celtics and with the help of Hayward led Butler to the title game in the NCAA. The two of them together again could be worth it to Boston to dish out an offer than Utah would not match.
Regardless of where Hayward might want to go, or what team might want to snatch him from the Jazz, the bottom line is Utah still has the last call and can match any offer if the team wants to keep him in Utah.
Last October, Utah was hesitant in re-signing Heyward for more than $50 million. If a team comes through with a sizable offer sheet that’s above what Utah wants to spend, the big question is will Utah match it.
On team source said Utah was prepared to match any of the four-year offers that Heyward might receive. Heyward has become a fan favorite and the teams’ leading scorer.
In small markets, such as Utah, teams must build through great drafts and holding onto players already on the roster, such as Heyward.
Heyward was the No. 9 pick in 2010 by Utah and is a very capable player at power forward. Only two players this season in the league average at least 17 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 0.8 blocks per game. Those two are Kevin Durant and Utah’s Hayward.
Some inconsistency in his game has come this season. He is shooting 52% from the field, which is the worst of his short career and he has failed in six games to score in double figures.
That coupled with the other young talented players on the roster that will have contract extensions coming up is something that Utah must look at when or if a huge free agent offer sheet arrives at the team’s office.
The final decision for Utah’s front office will come down to whether the team feels it could replace the game production and the popularity of Hayward with another player or players for less, or if he is just too valuable to lose.
With 35 games left to play, Hayward has a great deal of time to sway Utah’s front office in paying what is needed to keep him in a Jazz uniform for years to come.
