When will Hayward surpass AK47 as the 2nd best Jazz SF of All Time?

[AKistheFEARFACTOR]

Obviously Adrian Dantley is #1...

Thought of this while I was watching G-Time ball out yesterday. Hayward is progressing nicely, but needs to add to his resume playoff wins and All NBA selections.

I tend to forget how versatile and important AK47 was to our 07 playoff run. AK 1x All Star Selection and 3x All NBA Defensive Selection. In 04-05 led the league in blocks with 3.3 and the following year avg 3.2 blocks. What a stat this was from a SF! Miss those 5x5's.

I absolutely expect Hayward to surpass AK47 though. He just needs to win. I believe this teams potential exceeds Deron and Boozer's jazz. Or does it? Those teams were damn good too... Money man Memo $$$.

 

[Stoked]

If he re-signs with Utah he has passed AK for me.

 

[jope]

If he re-signs with Utah he has passed AK for me.

same

 

[Noomskull]

Let's get the man to commit. Then let's make it out of the first round and we'll talk all-time team greats.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

He is way past AK already.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

For me, the moment Hayward started working to improve himself in the offseason is the same moment he surpassed AK.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

He is way past AK already.

Yes!!! Why is this even a thread. He passed AK the moment he signed a max deal then got better instead of worse.

 

[ijazz]

Yes!!! Why is this even a thread. He passed AK the moment he signed a max deal then got better instead of worse.

It's a shame it is unlikely he will resign.

All indications, even from Hayward is he want to make a run at a ring.

I think unless we get to the conference championship (which is possible if healthy)... he walks.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

He's better than AK... AK was fun for a while but he wasn't the reason we won those playoff series.

 

[Stoked]

It's a shame it is unlikely he will resign.

All indications, even from Hayward is he want to make a run at a ring.

I think unless we get to the conference championship (which is possible if healthy)... he walks.

Good thing the Jazz will be in the 2nd round of the playoffs this season and will tweak the roster in the off season to push further. They will sell Hayward and I bet he returns. I say 75/25 he stays.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Good thing the Jazz will be in the 2nd round of the playoffs this season and will tweak the roster in the off season to push further. They will sell Hayward and I bet he returns. I say 75/25 he stays.

Hard to read Mrs Hayward's mind. Him staying in Indiana for several off seasons had me believing he'd leave. But this year he stayed in Utah. And there's a real family atmosphere with Favs, Ingles and Hayward all having young children. Also has a couple of good friends in Hill and Mack. I think all of that counts a lot, especially if Hill re-signs. Where is he going to go for a better chance? The "elite" teams already have all-star SF's in place. I think Utah with Hayward is better than Bostjon with Hayward.

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

Hayward will stay if Hill is signed. No matter what his wife thinks.

 

[ijazz]

Hard to read Mrs Hayward's mind. Him staying in Indiana for several off seasons had me believing he'd leave. But this year he stayed in Utah. And there's a real family atmosphere with Favs, Ingles and Hayward all having young children. Also has a couple of good friends in Hill and Mack. I think all of that counts a lot, especially if Hill re-signs. Where is he going to go for a better chance? The "elite" teams already have all-star SF's in place. I think Utah with Hayward is better than Bostjon with Hayward.

Keep in mind the only reason we are in this predicament is DL gambled on Hayward as a RFA and lost.

If I'm Hayward that pisses me off

 

[Engorged On Unborn Gore]

Keep in mind the only reason we are in this predicament is DL gambled on Hayward as a RFA and lost.

If I'm Hayward that pisses me off

Why? If anything, Hayward legitimately proved his own market value. The Jazz' economic gamble (that they lost) was rendered a footnote by their willingness to match the offer.

 

[Gameface]

Keep in mind the only reason we are in this predicament is DL gambled on Hayward as a RFA and lost.

If I'm Hayward that pisses me off

Hayward's pissed that he ended up getting more money? Hayward is a weird dude.

 

[fishonjazz]

He's better than AK... AK was fun for a while but he wasn't the reason we won those playoff series.

Rookie deal AK was special.

 

[fishonjazz]

Good thing the Jazz will be in the 2nd round of the playoffs this season and will tweak the roster in the off season to push further. They will sell Hayward and I bet he returns. I say 75/25 he stays.

I'm 100% certain he stays.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

All the jazz need to do is cut a deal with subway where they give Hayward a VIP card good at any Utah stor for free sandwiches how could he ever refuse?

 

[Deleted member 848]

To me it's a fascinating question because people are very quick to slam AK, ignoring those couple of years when he was killing (and was an all-star).

In some ways, they're actually quite similar-- both high IQ players with good defensive instincts, good passing. But they differ on certain grounds quite starkly:

- Hayward is eons and eons better at shooting
- AK was simply longer, and maybe even bouncier. Hayward is no athletic slouch, and his chasedown blocks are art, but AK's length is what made his passing, his steals, and his blocks possible
- Hayward is strong, AK was injury prone.

AK would have made a great PF in the smallball era if he could have learned to stay healthy & developed a lethal corner 3. Hayward's longevity and consistency will make him at least #2

 

[Joncolton]

To me it's a fascinating question because people are very quick to slam AK, ignoring those couple of years when he was killing (and was an all-star).

In some ways, they're actually quite similar-- both high IQ players with good defensive instincts, good passing. But they differ on certain grounds quite starkly:

- Hayward is eons and eons better at shooting
- AK was simply longer, and maybe even bouncier. Hayward is no athletic slouch, and his chasedown blocks are art, but AK's length is what made his passing, his steals, and his blocks possible
- Hayward is strong, AK was injury prone.

AK would have made a great PF in the smallball era if he could have learned to stay healthy & developed a lethal corner 3. Hayward's longevity and consistency will make him at least #2

I would add that AK was an EXTREMELY better passer. Possibly the 2nd best passer in Jazz history. Also, AK's 5x5 games were something all-league extraordinary. He probably could have had 5 times as many 5x5 games too, except usually when he close to having one doing so would put the Jazz at a 20+ point advantage and he'd get to sit the 4th.

Also, AK was 3x NBA All-Defensive team. Hayward will probably never earn that honor.

So, it depends on how you rank the best SF of All-Time. To my mind, it's not simply a matter of stats, but who do you pick for the head-to-head matchup if you want your team to win the game? For my money it's AK, because he's going to shut down a lot of what Hayward tries to do.