Utah Jazz: 3 reasons Dante Exum contract is a good one

3. Versatility

Dante Exum has the ability to play multiple positions. This is crucial in today’s NBA, which has been moving toward position-less basketball for a number of years now. Exum has the skills of a point guard, his ball-handling is sublime and he’s really starting to utilize his speed and size to their fullest potential.

Exum has a passable outside shot, but is starting to come into his own driving, beating his opponents with a quick first step. He is able to handle the ball inside and because opposition players are starting to respect his finishing at the rim, Exum is able to find the open shooter outside.

Defensively, Exum has the size to trouble most point guards. His length can be difficult to get around. His weakness is his lack of strength, but you have to be a player of the strength and ability of Russell Westbrook to be able to bully Exum in the post.

Last season, the addition of Ricky Rubio meant that there were a whole lot less minutes at the point position for the Utah Jazz. When he came back, Exum showed that he could defend the biggest shooting guards as well. Going the other way, he again could use his quick first step to get past his opponent.

In a pinch, Exum can play the other wing position. In a couple of seasons when his body is NBA hardened even further, he could lock down a 3-and-D spot with the Jazz.