The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Awards Predictions for the 2017-18 season

By John Keeffer

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: The Maurice Podoloff Trophy trophy during the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award presentation at Oakland Convention Center on May 04, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: The Maurice Podoloff Trophy trophy during the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award presentation at Oakland Convention Center on May 04, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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JULY 10, 2017: SYDNEY, NSW – (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) Basketball star Dante Exum of Utah Jazz poses during a photo shoot ay Crows Nest in Sydney, New South Wales. (Photo by Dylan Robinson/Newspix/Getty Images)
JULY 10, 2017: SYDNEY, NSW – (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) Basketball star Dante Exum of Utah Jazz poses during a photo shoot ay Crows Nest in Sydney, New South Wales. (Photo by Dylan Robinson/Newspix/Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player – Dante Exum

Largely due to injury, we haven’t been able to see what Dante Exum is able to do with a full off-season of work under his belt. This is the year where he is going to have to show the Jazz that they did not make a mistake by drafting Exum with the number 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft.

It is also a contract year for Exum. Which means he has more incentive than anyone to have a breakout season.

Based on his production post All-Star break, during the playoffs and at the Utah Jazz Summer League, I’d say Exum is putting in the work and is primed for a breakout season.

Now, when we are saying he is going to have a breakout year, I’m not expecting star level numbers. Last season, Dante averaged 6.2 points, 1.7 assist and 2 rebounds per game. My projections have him jumping to 10/3/3, and maybe a steal a game. Now those aren’t otherworldly numbers, but for Dante Exum, it is going to be more about the eye test.

During the playoffs and the summer league, he passed the eye test.

This season, I want to see much more than just numbers from Dante. I want to see him confident. I want him to have a mindset that he get past any defender to get to the rim. I want to see him confidently rise and shoot when he’s coming off of screens and gets open looks. I want to see him think before he leaves his feet to pass.

Everything we’ve heard over the summer makes me believe that we are going to see a different Dante Exum this season. He is going to be our most improved player, and will show that he is the future of this franchise at the point guard position.

Honorable Mention: Rodney Hood. If he can go from 12-13 points a night to a consistent 18 points, he could put himself in contention for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

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