What's new
By:

I'm watching the NCAA Basketball Championship Game right now on CBS College Sports.

P

pappyman

Member
Namely, I'm watching our boy Gordon Hayward. With the Jazz not having a set starter at SF, do you guys think that it is possible that Gordon could earn the starting Small Forward job in his rookie season? If Wesley Matthews is good enough to earn a starter job as a rookie, Hayward could do so as well. He might even earn the starting job in training camp. I personally think that this kid is going to be a star. IMO, he might end up being the best value pick of this year's NBA Draft. He could be this year's Stephen Curry. I know that some might laugh at me, but Hayward might be the second coming of Larry Bird. Both players are very similar if you really look at it. Both played at small schools in Indiana (which is kinda creepy in a way). Both of them led their teams to the National Championship Game. There are several other similarities as well. If Hayward does become this year's Stephen Curry, this year's offseason may be the best in Jazz history. I know that some might not agree, but I could see this depth chart by mid-season:

PG: Deron Williams, Ronnie Price
SG: C.J. Miles, Raja Bell
SF: Gordon Hayward, Andrei Kirilenko, Jeremy Evans (D-League)
PF: Paul Millsap, Mehmet Okur, Jeremy Evans
C: Al Jefferson, Kyrylo Fesenko (Re-signed with the rest of the MLE)
 
Last edited:
I watched the Syracuse-Butler game yesterday I think. Kid was extremely passive.

I'm hoping it was because of Syracuse's famed 2-3, since he seemed to be interested in getting to his spots.
 
pappyman, I've already stated that Gordon is the next coming of Larry Bird. He might not be there for a year or two but 3-4 years from now he is going to be an all-star.
 
Personally, I think Hayward's is going to be no more than a better Mike Miller (I'm fine w/ that because I'm not setting high expectations)...
Comparing the kid to Larry Bird is like comparing Dwight Howard to Bill Russell.
 
Larry Bird?? I personally will be overjoyed if Hayward turns out to be a better-than-average NBA starter.
 
PrinceJL said:
Personally, I think Hayward's is going to be no more than a better Mike Miller (I'm fine w/ that because I'm not setting high expectations)...
Click to expand...

Well Miller did win ROY - albeit from probably the worst rookie class of the last 25 years.

The Miller/Hayward comparisons are pretty legit - both put up similar numbers in college and came out early based on a strong showing in the tournament
 
pappyman said:
Namely, I'm watching our boy Gordon Hayward. With the Jazz not having a set starter at SF, do you guys think that it is possible that Gordon could earn the starting Small Forward job in his rookie season? If Wesley Matthews is good enough to earn a starter job as a rookie, Hayward could do so as well. He might even earn the starting job in training camp. I personally think that this kid is going to be a star. IMO, he might end up being the best value pick of this year's NBA Draft. He could be this year's Stephen Curry. I know that some might laugh at me, but Hayward might be the second coming of Larry Bird. Both players are very similar if you really look at it. Both played at small schools in Indiana (which is kinda creepy in a way). Both of them led their teams to the National Championship Game. There are several other similarities as well. If Hayward does become this year's Stephen Curry, this year's offseason may be the best in Jazz history. I know that some might not agree, but I could see this depth chart by mid-season:

PG: Deron Williams, Ronnie Price
SG: C.J. Miles, Raja Bell
SF: Gordon Hayward, Andrei Kirilenko, Jeremy Evans (D-League)
PF: Paul Millsap, Mehmet Okur, Jeremy Evans
C: Al Jefferson, Kyrylo Fesenko (Re-signed with the rest of the MLE)
Click to expand...


I hope you're right. I see Andrei getting a lot of minutes this season, but if Hayward ends up being as good as you think he will, I hope he would end up starting.
 
What impressed me most at summer league is that Hayward is NOT a skinny kid. He had some definition in his arms, which indicates to me he's been working out since he left Butler. I'm not going to compare him to Bird (Hayward is better-looking) or to Miller (also, Hayward is much easier on the eyes). Actually, if Hayward did compare favorably with Miller, I'd be thrilled with the pick. Miller has career averages of 14/5/3 on 46%.

What were we expecting at #9? MJ?

"Flash" is going to be a guy that will fill up the stat sheet; he'll give us efficient scoring, rebounds, a few assists, a couple of steals, and even a block here and there. Whether he's a starter or comes off the bench is immaterial. He'll probably get 10-15 mins. this year, but I think by next season, he'll be in the 25-30 min/per range.

Hayward doesn't have the 3 range that Korver had, but he's a better ballhandler and every bit as deadly coming off screens. From the line, it appears he's the Korver of two years ago. In fact, if teams need to foul, we could put in a lineup of AK-Memo-Hayward-Deron-Raja. Pick your poison...all those guys are excellent FT shooters.
 
I see him getting alot of playing time this year because he is basically the only guy that can come off screens and catch and shoot. That is a huge part of our offense.
 
Barring injuries, would be pretty shocked to see Hayward starting this year. Since we have to compare him to another white player, how about the 07/08 version of Mike Dunleavy, but with better defense. That would be pretty good.
 
We all saw how effective AK was as a starter last season. Injuries aside, he performed much better when starting. I can see Hayward perhaps beating out CJ for the starting 2 job, but CJ's been working his *** off once again this off season and is charged for good showing this season.

I think Hayward's passing ability will be more valuable with the second unit. We're obviously lacking a good facilitator that can initiate the offense. He has PG experience and it will give Price the opportunity to play like a 2.
 
NCJazz said:
Barring injuries, would be pretty shocked to see Hayward starting this year. Since we have to compare him to another white player, how about the 07/08 version of Mike Dunleavy, but with better defense. That would be pretty good.
Click to expand...

That's what I've been saying. Pre-injury Dunleavy is what I'm hoping for. I think the skill sets are the same, but the only thing I'm worried about is both Dunleavy and Miller seem way more aggressive than what I've seen from Hayward in College and Summer league.
 
I didn't say that he will be Larry Bird. I said he might be the second coming of Larry. I was really comparing him to Stephen Curry (both were stars at small schools and top ten picks).
 
bluenote said:
That's what I've been saying. Pre-injury Dunleavy is what I'm hoping for. I think the skill sets are the same, but the only thing I'm worried about is both Dunleavy and Miller seem way more aggressive than what I've seen from Hayward in College and Summer league.
Click to expand...

I hope not - Dunleavy was downright wretched his rookie year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top