2. Help Mitchell win the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award
The second thing on Utah’s wishlist post All-Star break should not only be continuing to run things through rookie guard Donovan Mitchell, but in return help the young and athletic guard claim the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The Rookie of the Year award is an individual award, of course, but it has the ability to mean much more for a franchise. For any player that claims the annual award — or comes close to winning it — along with that comes the attention of many players and coaches around the league.
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Although the Jazz are in the running for grabbing a playoff spot in the West, they are also focusing on the future of the team and how they can add pieces in Utah moving forward.
With Mitchell gaining exposure around the league by continuing to be the focal point in Utah’s offense and even possibly winning the Rookie of the Year award, that recognition could go a long way in attracting pieces to Salt Lake City in the coming years.
Entering Monday’s contest against Houston, Mitchell is averaging 19.7 points, 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.3 minutes per game. In 57 appearances, he is also shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from behind the arc.
Utah is at a middle ground where it is trying to focus on this year while trying to make a late-season attempt at claiming a playoff spot, but the Jazz are also looking ahead to what they have the capability to do in the future. The production of Mitchell is in the middle of it all.