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Utah Jazz: It’s Time to Bring In Another No. 1 Option

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Mar 4, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles in the first quarter as Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes (22) defends at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) dribbles in the first quarter as Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes (22) defends at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Utah Jazz haven’t had much success with Gordon Hayward as their No. 1 option. Is it time to start making some changes? 

That’s why it’s very comical when people start to believe the notion that one person can be solely responsible for a team winning a championship.

However, though one person cannot be solely responsible for winning a championship, in a sport like basketball one person can drastically change the course of an entire season. They might not be only reason responsible for an entire team winning a ring but their impact on the court can be so profound that it helps the entire team get to that point.

They say that the high tide makes all ships rise and we’ve seen evidence of that with LeBron James for the last five years. James has played in the last five NBA Finals (pretty remarkable when you actually think about that) with five different rosters each year.

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For as great as James is as a player, during those trips to the Finals, he left with a 2-3 record. The point is that the entire team has to become as strong as their sharpest player if they want to succeed.

The problem that the Utah Jazz have faced this season is that they’ve come to the realization that they need another No. 1 option on their team.

Mar 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (18) moves against Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson (3) in the third quarter at Air Canada Centre. Raptors beat Jazz 104 – 94. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (18) moves against Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson (3) in the third quarter at Air Canada Centre. Raptors beat Jazz 104 – 94. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

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In his fifth year in the league and at age 25, Gordon Hayward this season is having a career year in scoring. For the first time in his career, Hayward’s managed to crack the 20-point-per-game threshold, averaging 20.1 points per game. That accomplishment in itself is a feat that should garner a lot of praise because he’s doing it on the slowest-paced team in the league.

Additionally, Hayward also handles the ball more than any other player on the roster. He takes the most shots per game. He gets to the free throw line the most. He even averages the most assists on the team.

(Technically, second on the team in assists averaging 3.7 a game. Shelvin Mack is averaging 3.8 assists and leading the team. but remember he was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.)

For as much production Hayward has had for this Utah team, they still haven’t been able to win many games and for the second year in a row it looks like they’ll fall quite a bit below expectations. The point being, if Hayward can’t lead Utah to the NBA playoffs during a career year, should the Jazz start looking to bring in someone better?

Even if Utah does make the playoffs this season they still might need to make some tough decisions. In reality, if your best player is only good enough to lead his team to the eighth spot in the Western Conference for a potential first-round sweep against the Golden State Warriors, then was making the playoffs truly worth it?

Feb 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) is introduced prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah won in overtime 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) is introduced prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah won in overtime 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Is it entirely on Hayward’s shoulders? Not at all. No one told Kevin O’Connor (Utah’s former general manager) to draft him before Paul George in the 2010 NBA Draft. George is now a three-time NBA All-Star, he’s made the All-NBA team twice, he was an MVP candidate, and he’s made the All-Defensive team twice as well.

The Indiana Pacers got a franchise player from the 2010 NBA Draft, and Utah got a really good No. 2 option.

However, because you can’t rewrite the past, Utah has to find a way to bring someone with more talent on their team if they want to escape from the bottom of the Western Conference ladder.

This year, regardless if Utah makes the playoffs, general manager Dennis Lindsey will have to bring in more talented players or Utah’s going to remain with a borderline, below-average record and it’s not Hayward’s fault. As a player he’s grown but if his ceiling is only as a No. 2 or No. 3 option, then it’s Lindsey’s responsibility to bring in someone to play the top dog role.

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Otherwise we may never see Utah get back to the Finals like the glory days of the ’90s, let alone the playoffs. The good news is that if they don’t make the playoffs, there might be players who could change the fortune of this franchise.

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