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Hayward - a Bust or Not?

Stifle Tower

Stifle Tower

Punch Bowl Re-Filler
I think it's laughable after 4 pre-season games that some are declaring that the Jazz wasted a lottery pick and are even calling Hayward a "bust."

Let's look at who was available at 9 and what those players have done thus far. It takes a while to go through each box score for so I've only gone 10-16. That encompasses most of the players we were discussing before the draft as possible picks: George, Aldrich, Henry, Davis, Patterson, Sanders and Babbitt.

George: is 7-31 (23%) in his pre-season games to date.
Aldrich: scored 2 pts and fouled out in 17 mins vs. CSKA Moscow. Game before he fouled out in NINE minutes against Memphis with 0 pts and 2 boards.
Henry: 2-6 in his last game w/ 4 rebounds. Overall is 8-24 in 5 games (33%).
Davis: injured, has not played.
Patterson: 7-19 to date (37%). Had one game where he got 9 boards, nothing special in the others.
Babbitt: 6-15 (40%) with one DNP. Most of that came in one good game vs. Denver.
Sanders: 9-30 (30%) and about 4 boards/per.

So none of the rookies we could have taken at #9 are tearing up the league. It will be interesting to see how they all develop as the season progresses. I didn't pull the stats of the players taken 1-8 because I don't think it's relevant: I'm only concerned with the players the Jazz COULD have drafted. However, I know Aminu has struggled.

Is it safe to say the transition from college (or HS) to the NBA is tough for a rookie, even if he's taken in the mid or late lottery?
 
Hayward is 20. No rational person would throw the word bust around for at least 2 years. But bust has been redefined to mean "not immediately productive" to most people. In Hayward's case, the high draft position ramps up the pressure. What people should be looking for are the signs in the midst of struggle--the plays he makes when he's just playing, not trying to fit in. What will happen is his many mistakes will be magnified. I'm not totally sold on the kid personally, but I'm hopeful, and I'm giving him lots of latitude. I've definitely seen things that I like in flashes.
 
I'd like to see Hayward run the floor more on the fast break. A couple of times last night he quit on the play, both on offense and on defense. To me that doesn't say "I want the ball" or "I'm going to get a stop here". I think this will come in time, especially as his confidence grows.
 
I'll play along. I knew Elder Hayward was a bust before he played a single game. His lateral movement test at the combine told me he was not athletic enough to play in the NBA. Now he is smart and shots good free throws, but his physical limitations prevent him from playing in the NBA over the long haul. He is the opposite of Evans, who has all the physical tools, but is still learning the game.

As for the other draftees I disagree. As I have stated in previous thread I would have drafted in order sanders, Paul, patterson, babbit. While none of these guys are tearing up the league they have at least shown ability to play in this league. For instance, Sanders defense is very good and he is already in the top 10 in block shots during the preseason and he has played very limited minutes. Sanders defense is very good. The others aren't playing as well, but I think all are better than Hayward.
 
The game's just a little fast for him right now. Complicated offense, much higher skill level, defensively playing differently than he ever has. Last night, you could seem him thinking on the court. He's trying to color inside the lines. He looked a lot like CJ 2 years ago with the starting unit.
 
I heard that Hayward has syphilus. He can only jump like one foot, he's slower than Okur, he's skinnier than an anorexic Shawn Bradley, he has no ball skills, and his shot looks like a blind Shawn Marion throwing up a half court shot. Definitely the biggest bust ever in the game of basketball. He makes Donyell Marshall look like an all-star. Whoever disagrees with this likes men.
 
billyshelby said:
Hayward is 20. No rational person would throw the word bust around for at least 2 years. But bust has been redefined to mean "not immediately productive" to most people. In Hayward's case, the high draft position ramps up the pressure. What people should be looking for are the signs in the midst of struggle--the plays he makes when he's just playing, not trying to fit in. What will happen is his many mistakes will be magnified. I'm not totally sold on the kid personally, but I'm hopeful, and I'm giving him lots of latitude. I've definitely seen things that I like in flashes.
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Me too. I honestly think most of his problem right now is that he's way too tentative out there. Hopefully more practices and games and maybe, gasp, even a great game will boost his confidence and will let him play more loose out there.
 
If Elder Hayward was not on a 1st round draft pick contract, he would be cut pure and simple. He's here and I think he's going to figure this rodeo out before too long. He's a smart basketball player. Heck if we were looking for a free throw shooter, Kevin Kruger would be your man. Last I heard he's playing in Mexico.
 
I know many in here loath David Locke and yes, he is certainly a company man but he can sometimes be very insightful and definitely gets a lot of inside info. He made a great point about Hayward today.

He said look for him to be starter once the season begins because right now the game is really too fast for him offensively so he's going to struggle to score. Says Utah wants to put him in a line-up with DWill, Sap, and Big Al so Gordon can focus on doing all of the other things without feeling the pressure to score.

Excited to see how that works out. I love the idea.
 
I agree with a lot already said in this thread. I went to the game last night and watched Hayward intently.

He's obviously struggling offensively. The game is too fast and too strong for him right now, and that's ok. He'll figure it out in time.

I saw plenty of good things last night. He runs the break pretty well, he had some great passes. He had a drive and outlet for a 3 (i forget who to) that was awesome.

He's getting held up by screens and losing his man defensively. I think he'll figure this out soon enough. I saw Jefferson making the same mistakes.

All in all, we've all seen how Hayward looked in college against college competition. I don't see any reason why he can't do what he did in college in the NBA. With time, this kid will be a baller. He's has the head for it, his body will catch up.
 
homeytennis said:
If Elder Hayward was not on a 1st round draft pick contract, he would be cut pure and simple.
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I think you need to back up this statement with hard evidence that you've seen each of the 4 preseason games in person, and then reviewed them on video afterwards. Otherwise, this will sound like the mostly baseless idiotic dribble that it appears to be. I'm sure you don't want to sound like a damn fool.
 
If Hayward's a bust, what about Favors? He's looked terrible and he's the #3 pick.
 
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slc said:
If Hayward's a bust, what about Favors? He's looked terrible and he's the #3 pick.
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And Evan Turner has struggled while he's supposed to be the most complete sure thing in the whole draft. Favors was drafted on potential. 19 with elite athleticism and the raw basketball skills to dream big. Turner has had a better preseason than Hayward, but not a good one, and his clock is on short time. Accomplished college player, 22 when the season starts, number 2 pick, and he'll be labeled a bust fast if he isn't producing (whether that's fair or not.) Hayward is only 20. Won't turn 21 until the end of the year. Played 2 years at Butler. There's going to be growing pains.
 
jazzman12 said:
I know many in here loath David Locke and yes, he is certainly a company man but he can sometimes be very insightful and definitely gets a lot of inside info. He made a great point about Hayward today.

He said look for him to be starter once the season begins because right now the game is really too fast for him offensively so he's going to struggle to score. Says Utah wants to put him in a line-up with DWill, Sap, and Big Al so Gordon can focus on doing all of the other things without feeling the pressure to score.

Excited to see how that works out. I love the idea.
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Ugh. What a lousy idea. Expect us to go 7-13 in the first 20 with Hayward in the starting lineup, then 18-2 over the next 20 when Sloan figures out it isn't working and decides to start AK, the far superior player.

Basketball Gods, please don't let me go through another quarter of a season hating Jerry Sloan...

*note: I like Hayward and I want him to succeed. I don't think he's going to be a bust. I just don't want him starting until he's better than the guy in front of him. Makes sense to me...
 
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