Two of Utah’s brightest players are close to long term extensions.
For the citizens in the state of Utah, sports are an anomaly. The closest Major League Baseball team is too far to ski to, and the NFL wouldn’t dare put a team in Salt Lake City. Can you imagine the lack of publicity?
That’s right, sports fans in Utah have one team to stand behind. It’s unfortunate for the fans that their team hasn’t been relevant for nearly 15 years.
Yes, I realize Deron Williams led the Utah Jazz to the playoffs multiple times in recent years, but they never really had a shot against the Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, or any other powerhouse franchise.
The Jazz had about as much of a chance at winning an NBA title in the last 10 years as Michael Jordan had at winning a bet – still too soon?
Oh, Jordan… couldn’t you let the John Stockton-Karl Malone dynamic duo win just one ring?
It’s hard to believe that Jazz fans still suck joy out of hearing “Stockton to Malone!” I’d bet some of them even have that sound bite as his or her text tone.
Good news, Jazz fans, you can buy your hope from a new vendor. The Jazz are currently discussing contract extensions with small forward Gordon Hayward and power forward Derrick Favors.
Hayward broke out last year in just his third season out of Butler. He dropped about 14 points a game and had a player efficiency rating of 16.8 – average PER is 15. Hayward played in 72 games last season, but he only started 27. That will change next year.
Hayward is a good shooter and can provide stability at the small forward position that the Jazz has lacked severely for years.
On the flipside of Hayward is Favors.
The Jazz let Paul Millsap (Atlanta) and Al Jefferson (Charlotte) walk in free agency. So the door is wide open for Favors to step up as the franchise big man.
Favors only started eight games last season, but had a PER above 17. He’s wide, agile and skilled. He’s actually quite similar to Malone on the offensive end of the floor.
His 9.4 ppg last season isn’t exactly sexy, but with Jefferson and Millsap in different zip codes, Favors will get more looks than LeBron James at a Cleveland Browns game.
Depending on whether or not the Jazz can actually complete the deals is another story. Utah hasn’t exactly been a desirable destination for free agents. But, if they can retain both Hayward and Favors, the Jazz can build off of them being the cornerstones of the franchise.
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