National Basketball Association

Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (finger) expected to miss 6 weeks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With the start of the 2016-17 regular season fast approaching, the Utah Jazz will be without their best player, Gordon Hayward, for a while.

The Utah Jazz are one of more promising teams in the Western Conference heading into the new season, but they’ve been dealt a significant injury blow. According to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake City Tribune, small forward Gordon Hayward suffered a broken left ring finger during practice on Friday and he’s expected to miss six weeks.

It was first reported by ESPN’s Chris Haynes that Hayward suffered a dislocated finger on his left hand, but a broken finger is obviously a step up in severity. Hayward will be re-evaluated in three weeks, at which point it should be determined if he needs surgery.

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey proactively added depth to the roster this offseason, signing Joe Johnson in free agency and trading for George Hill and Boris Diaw. With Rodney Hood and the expected returns to health of Alec Burks (knee, ankle) and Dante Exum (knee), coach Quin Snyder has some lineup options to help make it through Hayward’s absence.

Hayward averaged 19.7 points per game last season, over 80 games, and he’s been Utah’s leading scorer each of the last three seasons. So there’s no easy way to replace him, and after a 2015-16 season that saw injuries to multiple key players derail a possible playoff campaign, the Jazz are off on the wrong foot this year.

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If Hayward is sidelined for the full six weeks, he would miss 13 regular season games. Over that stretch Utah takes on gambit of playoff teams from last season, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs (twice), Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls on the slate.

That first baker’s dozen games also includes a five-game road trip to the East coast, with games against the reloaded New York Knicks and the possibly reinvigorated Orlando Magic during that stretch along with the Hornets and Heat.

Hayward is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He can still have a breakout season and lead the Jazz to the playoffs, but a broken finger is a clear early setback to both pursuits.