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Utah Jazz: Now, All Eyes Are On Trey Burke

By Eric Laboissonniere

Mar 30, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) dribbles in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-84. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) dribbles in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-84. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Utah Jazz made magnificent strides last season by almost winning 40 games, and the team had one of the best defenses in the league last season. The Jazz were going to head into the upcoming season with loads of confidence because they were returning all of their key players from last year while adding a lottery pick in Trey Lyles.

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The offseason was going just great until recently, when Dante Exum tore his ACL while playing for the Australian national team . Exum was going to be the main floor general for the Jazz next season, and many were hoping that he was going to make a big leap on both ends of the floor after his impressive summer, but all those plans will have to go on hold. Now, all eyes will be on point guard Trey Burke.

Burke will need to step up

Burke has averaged 12.8 PPG throughout his first two seasons in Utah, but he has not shot the ball well at all from the field, especially from deep. He will be relied on heavily next season as a facilitator for players like Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, Derrick Favors, and even Rudy Gobert. That is what the starting lineup will look like for the Jazz next year, and if Burke can contribute with his passing ability, then the Jazz should be a lock for next season’s playoffs.

The Jazz will still make the playoffs without Exum

Burke does need to step up, but the Jazz will get away with not even playing with a point guard at times. Players like Burks and Hayward can handle the basketball while players like Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles can come off the bench and help as well. The thing that is so interesting about the Jazz is that they were really good last season after the all-star break, even without Burks, and this team still has not reached their full potential because they are still very young. Lyles is another player that should be able to help out in the frontcourt right away, and he is going to be a rookie next season that can stretch the floor.

Other point guard options 

Other than Burke, the team also had players like Bryce Cotton and Raul Neto, who has not played in an NBA game yet. Cotton is a high volume scorer who showed some great signs towards the end of the season, but he needs to learn how to be more of a point guard, not just a scorer. The Jazz also drafted Olivier Hanlan in the 2015 NBA Draft, who will be able to add scoring and some flash as a point guard.

Overall

The Jazz will miss Exum, but the team should still be able to make the playoffs without him. The team still has one of the top defensive frontcourts in the NBA, and players like Gobert, Hayward, and Favors should be able to reach a whole new level next season.  Burke will handle the point guard responsibilities for the Jazz next season, and if he can play a little smarter on both ends of the floor and not force up shots, then the Jazz should be fine. Neto and Cotton should be able to contribute as well.

Jazz fans, do not be worried, the playoffs are not out of reach even without Exum.

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