Utah Jazz: Top free agents to target if Gordon Hayward leaves

Jonathon Simmons, San Antonio Spurs

It’s amazing what one playoff series can do for you.

Jonathon Simmons was already going to get a massive raise this summer. He only made $874.6K last season, and he became one of the lead players off of the Spurs bench. During the Western Conference Championship series against the Warriors, he averaged 15.3 points per game in place of Kawhi Leonard, and set himself up to get PAID this offseason.

With Simmons, the Utah Jazz would be trusting that what he has done in limited minutes can translate into a larger role. However, he is older than you would think for a second-year player, at 27, which means his upside is somewhat limited. What you know you are getting in Simmons though, is an elite athlete and a tenacious defender.

Offensively, he needs to show that he can do more than just get to the basket, but that he can consistently hit a jump shot. As a rookie, he made 38 percent of his three-point attempts, but that number dipped to 29 percent last season. If he can even get that to 34-35 percent, he would be worth a shot.

Defensively is where he would fit right in. He has a high motor, and perhaps because of the route he took to get to the NBA, he plays every minute like it could be his last. Utah fans would fall in love with a player like that.

Related Story: 23 free agents the Utah Jazz should consider signing

None of this really matters though, since the Utah Jazz are simply going to re-sign Gordon Hayward (I’m an optimist, remember?).