Sports

Jazz knew that rebuilding would be hard, but not this hard

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Utah Jazz's Marvin Williams speaks to the media on the day the Jazz cleaned out their lockers after a 25-57 season, Thursday, April 17, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)

Utah Jazz's Gordon Hayward speaks to the media on the day the Jazz cleaned out their lockers after a 25-57 season, Thursday, April 17, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)

The long, difficult season showed on the faces of Utah Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin and leading scorer Gordon Hayward.

Both slogged through the second-worst record (25-57) since the team moved to Utah in 1979. Both knew the Jazz had made a firm commitment to rebuild by jettisoning their top veterans.

But they didn't know exactly how tough it would be. And now that the season is over, the question is whether both will be around next season as the process continues.

Corbin's contract has ended and he knows he has detractors, but he discounts the notion that a decision on his future has already been made.

Hayward — the first Jazz player to average 16 points, five rebounds and five assists since Pete Maravich — becomes a restricted free agent this summer.