SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz entered the 2016-17 season with one simple task: prove to Gordon Hayward that he should re-sign with the team this summer.

If Hayward hasn’t made his decision yet, the past week should help the Jazz cause when they hit the negotiating table in July.

Last Tuesday, Jazz fans raised money to rent a billboard along I-15 to persuade Hayward that they’ll do what it takes to keep him in Utah. The $5,000 needed to pay for the billboard was surpassed in a few short days, and currently sits at over $6,500.

The creator of the fundraiser, Garrett Jones, has promised to donate any extra money to a “campaign Gordon Hayward shared … which belongs to his friend, Erik Romm, on his quest to raise 100K for cancer research.”

The fans, who already pay for a portion of Hayward’s salary when they purchase tickets, are spending extra income to keep him in Salt Lake City. It’s a small gesture, pocket change compared to the nine-figure deal he’ll sign this summer, but it shows that fans understand Hayward’s desires. He wanted to be an All-Star before the season began, and in addition to achieving that goal, Jazz fans are treating Hayward like a star in the city.

On Monday, the Jazz showed just how far they’ve grown as a team, even without Hayward on the floor. With Hayward resting for the playoffs, and the Jazz needing a win to stay in contention for home-court advantage in the playoffs, Rudy Gobert and George Hill left Oracle Arena with a stunning 105-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors. In addition to Hayward, the Jazz were without Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Raul Neto.

Gobert was brilliant for the Jazz, finishing the night with 17 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks. There may not be a more ideal frontcourt teammate for Hayward than Gobert, setting screens and rolling to the basket to clear room on the perimeter. Gobert has also assumed the role of the vocal leader that Hayward has shied away from so far in his career.

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Unlike the past four seasons, this week isn’t the end of the year; the Jazz will make their first playoff appearance since 2012 when the NBA enters the postseason after games Monday at the Warriors and Wednesday’s home finale against the Spurs.

The two have proven themselves as upper-echelon players in the Western Conference, and are a third star away from the coveted big-three combination NBA front offices seek to build a championship contender. The Jazz have a slew of draft picks over the next two season, plus young talent they could package to bring in another star to support Hayward’s championship aspirations.

The victory marked the Jazz's 50th win of the season, completing an impressive growth chart as an organization with Hayward as the team’s star.

If Hayward were to make one of the league’s All-NBA teams, he’d be eligible to sign a mega-extension with the Jazz next summer, providing he opts in to the final year of his deal with the Jazz this July.

Dennis Lindsey took a risk in his rebuilding efforts with the Jazz, patiently allowing his young players to develop and holding off on "skipping steps" by adding veterans to make a quicker trip to the playoffs. Finally, this past summer, Lindsey added George Hill and Joe Johnson, and the returns have been promising.

Had the Jazz injuries this season prevented them from a playoff run, the likelihood of re-signing Hayward would have been diminished. However, if the Jazz general manager can continue to surround his stars with above-average supporting talent, the Jazz can surpass this season’s 50 wins as long as Hayward and Gobert are healthy.

Hayward has developed into one of the NBA’s premier players and is deserving of a franchise and a roster as committed to improving as he has been over the first seven years of his career.

Considering the Jazz growth over the last four seasons, their commitment to Hayward as their franchise player, the growth of Gobert as a top-tier running mate, and the support of the fan base, the Jazz have done their part in the audition for Hayward’s services. And now that they know who they’re playing, a first-round series victory over the Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t hurt.

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