Utah Jazz: Top 10 story lines to watch for in 2017-18

Can Dante Exum finally break out?

Ever since drafting Dante Exum with the fifth overall selection back in 2014, Utah Jazz fans have been excited to see what the young Australian could become. He was touted as having superstar potential back when he was selected and although they’ve unfortunately been few and far between, Dante has shown some flashes where such still certainly appears quite possible.

Unfortunately, he was severely hampered by an ACL injury which kept him sidelined for the entire 2015-16 season and prevented him from having a full offseason of work heading into last year. He was on a very short leash last season and much to the chagrin of Jazz fans everywhere, often found himself playing behind Shelvin Mack on the depth chart.

However, Dennis Lindsey challenged him to elevate his game heading into next season and he already looked better during Utah Jazz Summer League back in July. If he’s been able to continue to improve throughout the offseason at that kind of rate, the Jazz could have an ideal sixth man and a potential Most Improved Player candidate on their hands.

Furthermore, Exum is in a contract year meaning that his play this season could very well make or break his future, not only with the Utah Jazz but in the NBA as a whole. He has plenty to prove, but ought to have an extended opportunity to do it, and if he can finally capitalize on the potential that Utah saw in him when they drafted him just over three years ago, he could help elevate the Jazz to astronomical heights.