9. Dante Exum, Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz fans swear by Dante Exum, and it’s easy to see why … when he’s actually on the court, that is. At 6’6″, and with an all-encompassing wingspan, the front office still believes he can be their long-term solution at the point guard, which is why they re-signed him to an inflated three-year, $33 million contract this summer.
For a guy who averaged 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last year, that seems like a risk. The situation feels even more precarious when you realize that after playing all 82 games as a rookie, Exum has missed 166 of a possible 246 games over the last three years. All he’s shown through three (technically four) years in the league is flashes, mostly in the form of stifling defense.
However, he’s still only 23 years old, and with Ricky Rubio entering the final year of his contract, the upcoming season is Exum’s chance to prove he can stay healthy and eventually assume the mantle of starting point guard. He has contract security, but there’s a lot riding on this season to show everyone he was worth that kind of generous investment.