NBA Player Rankings: Top 10 small forwards for 2016-17
By Tom West
8th place – Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward certainly falls into the group of some of the most overlooked players in the NBA. It’s felt like he’s been on the cusp of being on All-Star for the last two seasons, making averaging 19 points, five rebounds and four assists look easy.
Yet, he’s fallen victim to being in one of the most talented and deep positions in the league (as is obvious when ranking the players coming up).
Being on a Utah Jazz team that’s only made the playoffs once in the last six years (in 2011-12), though, only to be swept that time by the San Antonio Spurs, it’s no wonder that Hayward has struggled to truly stand out.
Perhaps with the Jazz adding George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw this summer to address their perimeter shooting, wing depth, and frontcourt versatility and playmaking/spacing, a potential rise to the top four seeds in the Western Conference could help things change for Hayward.
His three-point shooting has fluctuated through his career, bouncing between 40 some years and the low 30s the next. Even still, Hayward has proven himself as a scorer. A combination of perimeter shooting and drives to the basket have done just that, while his improved playmaking has helped him become one of the more balanced wings in the league.
For Jazz fans, they’ll be hoping some All-Star attention comes Hayward’s way as the leading scorer for a team on the rise.
Next: 7th place - A great scorer we need to appreciate