Point Guard – Fred VanVleet
In a recent piece I put together about seven under-the-radar free agents that the Utah Jazz could pursue, Fred VanVleet was one of those who made the cut. Though I had hoped to not repeat any from that list here, I felt that VanVleet was simply a guy I couldn’t keep off.
There are a few other free agent point guards that interest me, such as Shane Larkin, Jose Calderon, and even Marcus Smart who can play multiple positions, but as far as fit and reality are concerned, VanVleet is my top pick. He’s a crafty backup point guard who shoots the ball well and can proficiently run the point in the absence of the starting one-guard.
If the Jazz were to lose Raul Neto, VanVleet would be an ideal replacement and also an upgrade. He has a toughness and grit about him that would fit perfectly with this Jazz squad. He shot 41.4 percent from three this past season on 3.4 attempts per game. On above the break threes – an area where Utah certainly needs to improve – he shot an even better 42 percent.
Some worry about his lack of size – he is a full inch shorter than Neto – but he has over 15 pounds on Neto and is strong for his size. His experience with Toronto would be invaluable and from both a skill and personality standpoint, he would fit in perfectly with the Jazz.
And not only would he be a good Neto replacement, but let’s be honest, Dante Exum (assuming he’s retained) is still somewhat of a mystery at this point. As such, it would be nice to have a point guard like VanVleet around in case Exum succumbed to injury or inconsistency.
VanVleet made a minuscule $1.3 million this past season. His play more than likely has earned him a pay raise for next year, but it remains to be seen how much, especially in a market that is strapped for cash. While he’s set to make more, he could still very well be a bargain pickup for the Jazz if they hope to shore up their point guard depth and make minor improvements to their team this offseason.