I know a lot of fans are worried that Gordon Hayward might be the next Andrei Kirilenko for the Jazz. He’s not. When Hayward gets paid, and he will get paid, he will be worth every penny of his contract.
Why is he any different than Andrei Kirilenko?
Oh where do I begin?! Do I start with the fact that he’s not injury prone like AK47 or do I just skip ahead to where he’s a work horse and does everything he can to get better every day and especially in the off season. I can add that AK never had a season averaging 16, 5 and 5. Yes he had games where he almost had 5 in all 5 major statistical categories. Yes true, but he never got close to averaging that. AK was a very good player don’t get me wrong, but he wasn’t worth the $86 million dollar contract.
If Hayward signs a max it will be for 4 years if he signs another teams offer sheet that the Jazz WILL match or 5 years if he signs with the Jazz from the get go. The Jazz have money to spend and in his 4th year of the new contract it might make things hard on the Jazz, but most likely not. These reason why paying him a max (or close to it) won’t even matter is due to the increase of the salary cap over the next years. Will it affect the Jazz from not bringing in Lebron James or another athlete that requires 18+ million a year? Maybe, but if a superstar did want to come to Utah, the Jazz will most likely be in a situation to do a sign and trade to make the money work. That’s IF a superstar wants to come to Utah, which isn’t happening anytime soon.
To those worried that the Jazz won’t be able to retain Burks and Kanter, don’t be. They are easily retainable if the Jazz want them for the future.
If it’s Trey you are worried about, don’t be. He won’t be getting max money anytime soon and the Jazz will be able to pay him if needs be.
If it’s Exum you are worried about, don’t be. He will be up for a new contract the same time G Hay is.
I repeat the Jazz have the money and it will NOT affect them no matter how G Hay plays and who the Jazz want to bring in.
What’s most important though is saying he is worth the money being given:
@Jazz9titans if I have a '99 Chevy Cavalier and 29 people are willing to buy it for 20k then its worth 20k.
— This is the place (@kgp______) July 2, 2014
Let me ask you Jazz fans, if a player in free agency was averaging 20, 5 and 5 would you want that player? Better yet would you be willing to overpay the guy so that he came to Utah? My guess is yes everyone of you would as it is difficult to get free agents to come to Salt Lake City (they are missing out). Well the Jazz have a guy right now that is a 2013 three point percentage away from averaging those numbers and he is already in Utah and would love to stay here.
So without ranting any more I ask you Jazz fans, can you PLEASE accept Hayward as a Jazz man? Can you all please stop twitter complaining that you know more than management and Dennis Lindsey?! Can you please stop telling the Jazz that they are spending their money the wrong way? (That would be freaking annoying if you were all telling me how to spend my money) And lastly can we all as Jazz fans PLEASE unconditionally support our team as the fans we used to be and not as these “let’s drive every player away from here because we were spoiled with Stockton and Malone” fans. Please just stop and give Hayward your support.