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Out with Hayward? In with Millsap?
Posted by: Kyle Goodman on February 23rd, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Now that the Jazz have started trading, why stop? It turns out we have a problem at small forward. Andrei Kirilenko, a staple of this franchise, will be an unrestricted free agent when the season is over. To replace him, we’ve drafted Gordon Heyward. In my opinion, Heyward has been disappointing. I’ve watched him all season cower in the face of his matchups on defense, never go for a rebound, lack the toughness of AK, and just in general is not looking like a good replacement for AK, or a good draft pick in general.
Lets take a look at the stats to prove my point:
AK’s rookie year:
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Heyward’s rookie year (so far):
| 49 | 12 | 12.8 | 0.457 | 0.367 | 0.722 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.6 |
Call me crazy but I think that Heyward’s numbers show he’s clearly not going to be anything AK will be.
I understand, he’s a rookie and he’s also never played forward before. But I also think that we’ve seen he’ll never be an adequate small forward in the league, so here’s a solution.
Trade Heyward for a late first round pick. Some team will take him and move him to shooting guard. But who do we move to small forward?
The answer lies in Paul Millsap. Millsap has clearly earned a starting job. He’s played great this year and is a player we can certainly rely on in the future. But now we have Derrick Favors, a rookie, who gives us what Big Al puts out now in a fraction of the minutes. He’s bigger then Millsap and only weighs a little less then Big Al. I suggest we let Millsap split time with Favors at power forward, seeing how Favors will play. If Favors has a big second half with the Jazz, trade Heyward and move Millsap to small forward. It could be more then adequate.
Thoughts?
Replies: 9
Views: 439
9 Responses
Millsap cant play on the wing as he has no outside shot and isnt really quick enough. Hes a power forward trapped in a shooting forwards body…
hayward…. thats how you spell it. and i think we need to see what happens he has played well for the past few games
Yeah but he does everything. He scores, he rebounds, he even gives the Jazz some interior passing. He stuffs stats. He actually plays hard. If we make him develop a jumper, I think he can definitely play small forward. He doesn’t need to be a slasher like Lebron, Kevin Durant, or Melo. He just needs to defend and shoot a jumper. Plus the mismatches that could be created, you can’t have Kevin Durant guard Millsap by himself.
@David: I looked at his last three games and don’t really see what you’d call someone “playing well”.
Heyward will be ok.. But there is a logjam at the power forward but I like Favors..
I’d only keep Heyward if he can bulk up or we let him play at shooting guard, and he plays well at shooting guard. Half the time when he actually tries to stop somebody, he gets tapped aside.
I agree I think Milsap can play the 3. He is quick enough and has impoved his outside shot. He is the type of player if you put him somewhere he will play the spot. Just my opinion but given the chance I think he can play that spot. For Hayward his numbers are low but not bad. I think with DWill now out of the picture he might get a few plays to go his way. I think DWill did not go his way as much as he should have. Just my opinion but I think those are the plays DWill probably switched up when Coach asked him to run a play to Hayward
@Colorado: I can see that, but I’m more unhappy with his lack of defensive effort. AK was more valuable on that of the floor for the Jazz then the offensive end. Hayward is not playing defense. Millsap plays defense.
I think that hayward has a chance to develop his shot. THey have an excellent Shooting Coach in Jeff Hornacek and he will mold him. I have been very disappointed with Hayward this year as well but if you have forgotten Millsap couldnt shoot that ball at all 2 years ago now he is deadly from 20 feet out and if you leave him open he will can the 3. The good thing about favors here now is that the jazz can go big and move millsap to the 3 but you cant start millsap at the 3 he would get eaten up by quicker small forwards but when you went big and put millsap at the 3, favors at 4 and big Al at 5 we would make life very difficult for other teams.