10) Dante Exum, G — Australia
Thanks to injuries, we still don’t have a great idea of what exactly Dante Exum can be as an NBA player. And in the time he has spent on the floor, he’s largely left us wanting more — particularly on the offensive end.
Having said that, the former top-five pick has still shown elite speed and quickness, an ability to get to the hoop and a natural aptitude for defense.
The latter has been his best attribute over the course of an injury-plagued career. Case in point: his work on James Harden during the second-round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Per @NBA_Math's FATS Calculator, the Jazz performed like a 58.7-win team with Dante Exum on the floor in Game 2 and a 44.1-win team when Exum sat.
— Frank Urbina (@FrankUrbina_) May 3, 2018
The reason?
Exum held James Harden without a FG while defending him (0/6) and forced a vital turnover on the future MVP.
Clamps. pic.twitter.com/vRbuxwvWQG
Whether we’ve seen the last of Exum in a Jazz uniform or not, he’s done some good things for the team and still has the potential to do so much more.
Jazz stats: 162 GP (67 starts), 5.7 PPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 RPG, .395 FG%, .306 3P%
Next: No. 9