The next day, the Jazz's old No. 20 appeared at the Huntsman Center during the Utah Summer League, greeting fans and remembering his good times in Salt Lake City.
Bobby Hansen's alumni visit Wednesday was a reminder that Gordon Hayward is not the first big-time playoff performer the Jazz have ever lost — Hansen also departing seven years after the team drafted him. As Hayward hopes to do in Boston, Hansen went on to win an NBA championship two years later in Chicago (Michael Jordan may have helped). And the Jazz recovered, right?
So maybe the loss of this century's No. 20 in free agency will hurt the Jazz more than the trade of Hansen, a mainstay of their 1980s teams. This bounce-back process will take awhile for everybody involved. Asked if he had recovered emotionally, Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey smiled and said, "You know the real answer to that question. I'll come up here and put a brave face on it, but yeah ..."
In a statement, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said, "To further lament Gordon's departure does not honor the commitment we have to our current players." If you know Snyder, you know he actually speaks that way, befitting his Duke law degree. And he's right. The Jazz's only choice is to move on with the guys they have — and others they might add.
A defender? "We'll find someone hungry," Lindsey said.
A scorer? While praising point guard Ricky Rubio, Lindsey said, "We have to find him some more shooters."
As of Wednesday, though, the Jazz found themselves beyond Plan B. "Timing has been problematic," Lindsey said, the only time during a 15-minute interview session when he came close to criticizing Hayward's process, with the four-day ordeal having taken other potential targets off the market.
Lindsey spoke of taking a five-hour flight Tuesday with Snyder. They reportedly were pursuing Washington's Otto Porter, a restricted free agent who then signed an offer sheet with Brooklyn.
The Jazz will find somebody to take some of the money they would have paid Hayward. Rudy Gay, Tyreke Evans, James Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr. are in the picture. They're flawed, but they're available, which is a valuable trait at this stage.
Or imagine the Jazz landing one of the players the Celtics are having to move in the interest of accommodating Hayward's salary. Center Kelly Olynyk, suddenly a free agent with several teams interested, would thrive as a shooter in the tradition of Mehmet Okur. Jae Crowder could come via a sign-and-trade with Boston, in the Hayward transaction. Crowder would fit well in Snyder's system, especially as a defender.
Hayward is gone, and the reaction to his move has become a phenomenon of its own, right down to Rudy Gobert's colorful video clip about loyalty.
By staying, Hayward would have energized the Jazz fan base. Yet his departure may have done even more to unify and mobilize a group that really wants the Jazz to prove something to him and the rest of the NBA. They're discouraged, they're angry, they're feeling rejected — and they're seemingly more bonded than ever, thanks to Hayward's perceived betrayal of them.
The Jazz players likely feel the same way. "The one thing our character always showed is they responded to challenges during the season … I would imagine they'll have a great response, with their work," Lindsey said.
Personally, I'm hoping Hayward succeeds in Boston, just not to the level of winning a championship that would validate his move. Yet I understand the bitterness of Jazz fans who are fully committed to cheering against him and the Celtics — starting Thursday night.
kkragthorpe@sltrib.com
Twitter: @tribkurt
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) hauls down a rebound against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) fires a pass during the Utah Jazz versus Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday January 10, 2017.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) throws down a slam during the Utah Jazz versus Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday January 10, 2017.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) smiles at Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) after Hayward scored a basket during the Utah Jazz versus Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday January 10, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) runs past Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng (9) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday January 26, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) before the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday January 26, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday January 26, 2017.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Wednesday February 1, 2017.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Gordon Hayward motions after he scored a three-point basket in the first half of a game between the Utah Jazz and the Boston Celtics at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) is presented with his All-Star jersey by Greg Miller as the Utah Jazz host the Portland Trailblazers, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Wednesday February 15, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) drives on New York Knicks center Kyle O'Quinn (9) as the Utah Jazz host the New York Knicks, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Wednesday March 22, 2017.
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, right, goes up the shot against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) gets a high-five from Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) during the Utah Jazz versus Portland Trailblazers NBA basketball game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday April 4, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) and Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday, April 7, 2017. Utah Jazz defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 120-113.
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, of France, goes down after injuring his knee as forward Gordon Hayward looks back during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) stuffs the net over LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6). The Utah Jazz lead the Los Angeles Clippers after the third quarter during Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Friday, April 21, 2017.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) celebrates play with Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6). The Utah Jazz lead the Los Angeles Clippers after the third quarter during Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Friday, April 21, 2017.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during a timeout. The Utah Jazz lead the Los Angeles Clippers after the third quarter during Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Friday, April 21, 2017.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) questions the foul called on him. The Utah Jazz lead the Los Angeles Clippers after the third quarter during Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Friday, April 21, 2017.
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