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SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward is a sage veteran, buried in a sea of youth.
Because of ample experience, his understanding resides in a heightened state. He doles out advice like a wise sensei to his eager pupils. And why wouldn't he? He's been in the league for 210 games.
"I'm the old-head," Hayward said at the Orlando Pro Summer League on Tuesday.
The average age of the Utah Jazz projected starting five — Burke, Burks, Hayward, Favors and Kanter — is 21 years and 10 months.
"I was here, like, three years ago. Here, in summer league," Hayward said.
On the NBA-TV telecast, Hayward was interviewed about being the senior member of the Jazz.
I was here, like, three years ago. Here, in summer league.
–Gordon Hayward
"Checking out my guys here in Orlando, we got a young team, so, I wanted to be here and grow with them a little bit," Hayward said. "Just here to see how they are doing and give them a little bit of advice here and there and be around the team."
When Bob Dylan sang "The Times They Are a-Changin' ", I think he saw a future when the Jazz would hire Dennis Lindsey as their general manager.
The consistent and methodical Jazz have undergone a sea change under the new leadership and direction of Lindsey. Scraping the reload mentality for the rebuild, Lindsey has boldly committed to the rebuilding process by trading veteran players — or letting them leave without compensation — to develop the younger players.
Hayward has worn his Jazz uniform about 1,300 fewer times than John Stockton, but the Jazz have asked him to rise-up since their next most senior member is Jeremy Evans.
"I think it's a challenge for me to step up as a leader and be a little more vocal, and I'm ready to take on that challenge," Hayward said, "It's going to be exciting times in Utah with a young core group. Hopefully, we can run-and-gun on some guys."
Related:
Thoughts on two Jazz games at the Summer League
After two games of the Orlando Summer League it is time to jump to wild conclusions about the upcoming season.These players are so young — like a proud new parent — you can refer to their age in months.
Trey Burke is 248 months old and after a brutal 1-for-12 shooting in his first summer league game, Hayward stepped in with his curmudgeonly counsel.
Although he's checking up on his youngsters, Hayward finds time to work with the Jazz coaches in Orlando. This old dog is still learning new tricks.
"I've been doing a lot of ball handling stuff; that's going to be a big key of mine, so I can come off of pick-and-rolls a little bit better," Hayward said. "I'm going to need to make plays for us next year and mid-range finishing. Finishes that are not quite at the rim, but not necessarily jump shots. So, floaters and runners and off-balance shots — just to make it so my game expands a little bit more and make me a little harder to defend."
This experiment could work. Of course, there will be growing pains, but Hayward and his 279 months have a chance to succeed in the long run.
That, after all, is what Dennis Lindsey is counting on: the long run.
