The best word to describe newly-extended Utah Jazz guard Jaden Springer is potential. This is his fourth NBA season, he's never played consistent minutes, and while his defense has been quite extraordinary, his offense has always been a work in progress.
The good news about Springer is that his defense is why the Jazz just invested in him, though his new contract gives them multiple chances to bail if he doesn't come around. Offensively, they won't ask him to do much outside of knocking down open threes and cutting to the basket.
Springer hasn't been able to prove that, but in his defense (no pun intended), he hasn't really been given the opportunity to. The Jazz have given him playing time, and it's been overall okay. He hasn't dominated, but many are intrigued by how good he could be if he can become a two-way player.
The Jazz actually have someone who could help Springer turn into a complementary two-way player, and it's not someone on the roster. It's none other than Vice President of Player Development Avery Bradley.
Bradley turned into a dependable two-way guard
Bradley was never a star, but he developed into an excellent role player when he was at his peak. Like Springer, his calling card was his individual defense.
However, over time, his offensive evolution turned him into a dependable starter for Boston. He never had the best handle nor was he one to take guys one-on-one in iso, but he spaced the floor, made the right pass, and was a smart cutter.
He played a role in how Boston managed to make the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, which coincidentally, was also his best year in the NBA.
Though Bradley proved more than Springer did in his first four NBA seasons, his development took time. His career could be the template for Springer to follow. The Jazz hired him this summer for precisely this.
Taylor Hendricks singled out Bradley for his influence before the season started. Springer can do the same now that he will be on the Jazz for some time. Springer likely won't be as good as Bradley was at his peak, but he could be a poor man's version of the NBA champion and two-time All-Defense recipient.
Springer's already gotten some mentors to learn from, having played with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Patrick Beverley, all of whom were or are among the best perimeter defender guards in the NBA. Bradley's tutelage could be the last piece of the puzzle for Springer to finally become a player whose abilities are no longer hypothetical.