This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

So the Jazz plan to match any offers made by other NBA teams to restricted free agent Gordon Hayward, huh? I can only assume that's because the team doesn't want to allow him to walk without any return compensation because, from what I've observed, it can't be due to what he's providing in terms of wins and losses.

Hayward's field goal percentage has dropped precipitously each year he's been with the Jazz, his three-point field goal accuracy was at a career-low last season, and it seemed he was often "pressing," trying to do too much by himself. Yes, his rebounds, steals, and assists were up, but so were his turnovers and personal fouls.

And don't get me started on how he personally threw a wet blanket all over Jerry Sloan Night against the Warriors. Thanks to his 30 percent shooting night, eight turnovers and generally falling all over himself, the Jazz went from 10 points ahead in the second half to losing. And while Jerry probably didn't care all that much about the result, we fans did.

We can miss the playoffs with or without Gordon Hayward. The Jazz should let him go as soon as the team can get something decent for him.

Steve Wilde

Sandy