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Utah Jazz: Five free agent options at point guard

By Jared Woodcox

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 26: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles against the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre on January 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 26: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles against the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre on January 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball in the first half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball in the first half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet is by far my favorite on the list. However, due to his solid production in Toronto, he could be in for a pay raise if he can find the right team that would be willing to dole out some cash. Considering the major role he played for the Raptors, he might also be hesitant about potentially being buried on a depth chart behind both Rubio and Exum if he came to Utah.

However, VanVleet proved himself as a legitimate rotation player at the point guard spot this past season, so he could be either an exceptional backup or a much-needed insurance policy if things happened to not pan out well with Dante Exum in Utah. VanVleet shot a solid 41.4 percent from deep this past season, meaning he would add some much-needed shooting to the Jazz.

He’s a high-IQ basketball player that nearly always seemed to take full advantage of any opportunities given to him. If given said opportunities in Utah, I love what his skill set, hustle and intelligence could bring to this Jazz team. VanVleet went from an undrafted player to a Sixth Man of the Year candidate which just goes to show the kind of grit and determination he has.

VanVleet’s price tag could be more than Utah wants to spend on a backup or he may be worried about his role on a guard-heavy roster, but if those two issues could be resolved, I believe he would be an absolutely perfect fit with the Jazz.

Related Story: Utah Jazz: One potential free agent target at each position

So there you have it regarding a handful of options for the Jazz to consider in free agency at the point guard spot. If you felt the list was a little underwhelming, bear in mind that this isn’t a position where Utah is likely to break the bank this summer. Instead, any point guard additions will be savvy both in terms of their cost and what they bring on the court.

Be sure to stay tuned for the remainder of this series as a list of five potential shooting guard targets will be dropping next!

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