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Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward's departure draws mix of resentment, frustration and sadness on social media

Chris Detrick  |  The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) runs around Miami Heat forward James Johnson (16) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday December 1, 2016. Miami won the game 111-110.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) runs around Miami Heat forward James Johnson (16) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday December 1, 2016. Miami won the game 111-110.

After raising more than 6,700 to place "STAYWARD" billboards up and down I-15 in an effort to show appreciation for Utah Jazz free agent Gordon Hayward, Garrett Jones had every reasons to be inconsolable after Hayward decided to ship out to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

But at least on social media, Jones took the high road.

Jones tweeted from his Twitter account @UtahJazz6Man:

On the other end of the spectrum, @jcougar23 shared a video in which he set Hayward's jersey aflame:

Most Utah Jazz fans probably fell somewhere in between on Tuesday, which was marked by a deep sense of defeat and hurt in the state after


It was made all the more painful by a one-two punch: Hayward's agent Mark Bartelstein denied early afternoon reports that he had opted to join the Celtics, saying he was still making his decision. Utah fans were rocked again just minutes before 6 p.m., when Hayward's official announcement in The Player's Tribune went live.

The Utah Jazz official account sent out a message of gratitude:

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey conveyed a similar sentiment:

Many of Hayward's former Jazz teammates didn't immediately tweet in the wake of his departure. But many read plenty of subtext into a Rudy Gobert Instagram post of him singing along to Chris Brown's "Loyal."

Among the media, there was some skepticism in retrospect about Bartelstein's denials that Hayward had made a decision earlier on Tuesday. Yahoo columnist Dan Wetzel fired off a tweet shortly after Hayward's official announcement appeared:

Among Jazz fans, the emotions were more pointed. Directly responding to Hayward's tweet sharing The Player's Tribune column, many fans said the team would be better off without him, or said he didn't deserve the Jazz. A tweet from @Hendrickks might've best summed up that sentiment:

Others were more somber about the affair. Several fans wondered what else the Jazz could've done. They groused over Hayward's camp trying to scrub media reports of him leaving before he confirmed it himself:

Still, there were fans who seemed genuinely heartbroken โ€” and not driven by anger โ€” over Hayward's departure. ZDOG, a fan who has gained a form of celebrity in Utah for his colorful Jazz-themed music videos had a heartfelt minute-and-a-half video in which he poured out both gratitude and sadness:

ZDOG out.

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon

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