Could the Jazz reunite with Gordon Hayward?

There may not have been a player in NBA history who burned the bridge with his previous team in the same fashion Gordon Hayward did with the Utah Jazz back in 2017. Hence, the moment anyone brings up the mere notion that those two sides could reunite, it'll be shot down without a second's hesitation.

If the Jazz are 100% out on bringing Hayward back, no one would blame them. He not only left them, but he screwed them over when he did. Utah may not have initially suffered much from his departure, but things may have turned out differently had he, at the very least, let them know he was going to amscray from the very beginning.

It's been seven years since then. Both the Jazz and Hayward are in a different place now than they were in 2017. The days of Hayward getting nine-figure contracts are over, and the Jazz may very well start accumulating assets. With all of that out there, maybe there's a scenario where these two sides can help each other out.

But why would these two sides even bother entertaining a reunion? On paper, there are multiple benefits for each of them.

Jazz benefit: Hayward could be a good mentor for young Jazz players

For a team to develop their young players the right way, they need to develop the right habits to fully reach their potential. Love or hate Hayward, he was quite the success story in Utah. He didn't exactly light the world on fire when he first started his career in 2010, but then he progressed into one of the NBA's best two-way wings in several years' time, and the Jazz could use his example to develop who they have now.

The Jazz have accumulated a lot of young and raw talent over the last two seasons. They could learn from Hayward and how he got to the level that he did when he played for the Jazz. In turn, they could reach their potential and bring the Jazz to new heights.

Hayward benefit: Jazz could give him starter's role

Besides the fact that he's been made of glass since leaving the Jazz, Hayward's value has plummeted in part because of his disastrous tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC tried to put Hayward in a bench role, and he was terrible in part because he had a short window to make that adjustment with half a season left when he had grown accustomed to being a starter for most of his career.

The Jazz are short on wings at the moment. Hence, they can easily make room for Hayward to take that spot as one of their starting forwards. Hayward could redeem some of his value if given a starter's role again, and as long as the role isn't too big to risk an injury, the Jazz could do much worse.

Not many teams could offer the same to Hayward, but because the Jazz can, it may be hard to turn down going back to what he was accustomed to. Especially since he hasn't shown that he can properly adjust to playing in the second unit.

Jazz benefit: They could flip Hayward for another asset down the line

If the Jazz put Hayward in a starter's role, and it works out well enough that he's good enough to draw interest from a team looking for an upgrade for cheap, the Jazz could get some assets for him. There wouldn't be much risk in doing that since, at worst, he doesn't raise his value, and he sticks around for one season.

Hayward's not what he once was, but if given the perfect role for him this late in his career, and as long as he's not paid too much, the Jazz could turn him into another prospect down the line. It'd be a good use of a roster spot and a good use of money as long as it's not too long and not too much.

Hayward benefit: Jazz could offer him most money

Again, the days of Hayward getting paid like a superstar are very much in the past. However, while many think he's at the stage now where the money's so dry that he could go ring-chasing on a veteran's minimum contact, he's far more likely to go where there's more money to be made along with the aforementioned bigger role to play. The Jazz are one of the very few teams that can offer him both.

Even after acquiring and dumping Russell Westbrook, they still have a lot of money left over. There are players they could acquire to absorb into their salary cap, or they could give Hayward one last payday, only to a much lesser extent than what the Celtics and Hornet gave him.

Hayward's options are limited at this point, so even if the Jazz pay him only to keep him on the bench, he'd still get one last big contract before he calls it quits. This may be the last time he ever gets one if it ever becomes available.

Jazz benefit: Hayward could make the Jazz competitive, but not good

The Jazz are going to be one of the worst teams in the league regardless of what happens with Lauri Markkanen. Bringing Hayward back into the equation will not change that. It likely won't raise their ceiling one bit either.

But it can raise their floor. Even if the Jazz lose 60-plus games, Hayward could make games watchable even if it likely ends in losing anyway. The Jazz aren't winning regardless, but with Hayward, these young players can learn that they can still try. Young players develop the right way when they have a winning mindset, even if they're not winning anything.

Hayward can help them do just that. Or at least, he can help them start.

Hayward benefit: Long-term, he could redeem his legacy in Utah

It's totally understandable if everyone in Utah is opposed to getting Hayward back after what happened in 2017. However, if Hayward helps the Jazz steer their youth movement in the right direction, thus leading to potential championships down the line, he could erase a lot of the damage that was done.

It is a big if and far from a guarantee. The Jazz could simply pass on adding Hayward, and no one would bat an eye. Getting him back isn't a great idea or a game-changer in the slightest, but it's an idea. Simple as that.