Utah Jazz: Predicting the final landing spot for Jazz free agents
By John Keeffer
Restricted Free Agents
Raul Neto: $1,839,228 Qualifying Offer
Dante Exum: $4,333,932 Qualifying Offer
The Utah Jazz will have two restricted free agents to mull over this offseason, as Dante Exum and Raul Neto are both able to test the market. As restricted free agents, they can meet with any teams they would like in hopes of obtaining a more lucrative contract, but if they do accept an offer from another team, the Utah Jazz will have 72 hours to either match the contract offer, or to renounce their rights.
Realistically, the Jazz have three options when it comes to restricted free agents —
- They can meet with Neto and Exum and offer them a contract prior to those players exploring other options.
- They can let them explore the open market and make a decision based on what another team is willing to offer.
- The Jazz can choose not to offer a new contract, and if neither player signs an offer with another team, they could come back next season on a one-year qualifying offer.
Exum, who failed to meet the starter criteria, will have a qualifying offer worth $4,333,932 and Neto, will have a qualifying offer of $1,839,228.
As free agency opens on July 1st, the Utah Jazz’s priority is to keep their three internal free agents Derrick Favors, Dante Exum and Raul Neto. “We have to match some notes and see if there’s three marriages, in this case, to be made,” said Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey. https://t.co/SxWZO0SdP9
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) June 29, 2018
Based on reports from the Deseret News, the Jazz have made it a focus to retain both Neto and Exum. That said, doing so will largely depend on their market value.
Neto should be the easy option. As the third point guard on the roster, it has always felt like Neto is exactly what you are looking for. He is not going to rock the boat wanting more minutes, and when he is called upon, he is extremely solid. He isn’t going to wow you with incredible performances and feats of athleticism, but he is also rarely a detriment to the team.
He comes in when called upon, plays within the system, shoots 40 percent from three and plays with tenacious energy on the defensive side of the ball.
I don’t know if Neto has much of a market to get any significant offer, so I expect the Jazz to resign him to a multi-year deal, with a team option in the final year.
One of the biggest question marks has been over what to do with Exum, and I would say many Jazz fans have grown frustrated with his durability issues and lack of improved shooting.
Over the course of his first four years in the league, Exum has played in just 162 games out of a potential 328 games. That means he has only appeared in 49.4 percent of his games with the Jazz.
It’s hard to judge his performance on the court as well, because rarely has he had a full offseason to improve, and a full regular season to showcase that progression. He has definitely shown flashes of brilliance at times, and based on the advanced analytics, Exum has shown impressive progression during each season.
Dante Exum's 22.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) June 3, 2018
His size & athleticism are ideal for positionless basketball.
WS/48 over the years: -0.003 ➡️ .046 ➡️ .133
PER over the years: 5.7 ➡️ 8.5 ➡️ 16.7
TS% over the years: .457 ➡️ .521 ➡️ .566
Had THAT dunk against Houston & THAT block on Boban. https://t.co/N8N0RMh09X
At the end of the day, the Jazz are not going to let a former No. 5 overall pick, who is still just 22 years old, simply walk in free agency. I think the Jazz will try to get him signed before he goes out and explores the open market. But if he is offered a contract from another team, expect the Jazz to match it. They could then at least trade him for assets.