Dante Exum both expendable and indispensable for the Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz did fine without Dante Exum last season. But if they want to reach an elite echelon, they’ll need him to be a vital piece of their team.

Going into the 2017-18 Utah Jazz season, hopes were high that Dante Exum would finally get a major opportunity to shine and thrive in said opportunity. He was coming off a less than exhilarating 2016-17 campaign, had been challenged by Dennis Lindsey and Quin Snyder to elevate his game to another level and appeared absolutely electric in Summer League and preseason.

Then disaster struck. Exum suffered a serious shoulder injury during a preseason contest against the Phoenix Suns that would sideline him for nearly the entire year. When he did come back to action, he had limited opportunities as he worked to shake off the dust and get back into NBA shape.

However, by the time the playoffs rolled around, Dante was starting to get into a groove which he showcased quite plainly, particularly in an impressive Game 2 win over the Houston Rockets where he locked down James Harden while also adding nine points of his own, finishing with a 3-point percentage of 66.7 percent and a plus/minus of plus-10.

It was one of those stirring performances that showed just how important Exum could potentially be to this Jazz team. Make no mistake about it, had he not been present for that game, it’s entirely possible that the Jazz would have been defeated by the Rockets, falling to 0-2 in the series and likely suffering an eventual sweep.

But throughout the regular season, in spite of a rocky start, the Utah Jazz ultimately performed just fine without Exum, going so far as earning the fifth seed in the West. In his absence, several guys rose to the occasion, such as Donovan Mitchell who blossomed into a star, Ricky Rubio who transformed into a stellar point guard, and Royce O’Neale who received playing time on the wing largely as a result of Exum’s injury.

In other words, if the Jazz didn’t have Dante going into this upcoming season, they’d probably end up being just fine. After all, they played without him for nearly the entire 2017-18 campaign. His teammates stepped up, the Jazz defense and bench held fast, and ultimately Utah made it into the playoffs with flying colors. If that were the extent of the team’s goals, they’d be in a great spot even without him.

Yet, merely making the playoffs is far from what this Jazz team is aiming for. And while they might not need Exum to qualify for the postseason, they certainly need him if they are to take yet another leap. The Jazz are ‘just fine’ without Dante Exum. But with him, they have a chance to be great.

Just as Dante showed in that Game 2 bout against the Houston Rockets, I believe this year he will prove himself as an indispensable part of this Jazz team.

Although Exum’s impact wasn’t monumental last season as he readjusted to post-injury life, he still played his role well. In his 14 regular season games, he posted a net rating of 10.4, the highest of any bench player during that stretch and the second highest of any Jazz player for the season. If he’s able to have that kind of contribution for the second unit for all 82 games next season, he’s going to work wonders for his team.

Not only that, but when considering how high the hype surrounding Exum was heading into last season, just imagine what yet another healthy offseason will do, especially combined with the still-present challenge issued from Dennis Lindsey and Quin Snyder.

Exum has had a lot of time to work on his game and for his desire to excel to brew within him. If he can hit the ground running heading into this upcoming season with much of his potential coming together, he could be an absolute force to be reckoned with.

I’ve said it before about Exum, but I’ll say it again. He has all the tools to be an amazing player. His lightning-fast first step, his crafty ability to get to the rim, his length and his defensive aptitudes are all incredible. If he can transform those into even more meaningful skills by improving his finishing ability, adding a more reliable jump shot and gaining more discipline on defense, he could very well still be the star the Jazz hoped they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2014.

The Jazz don’t need Dante Exum in order to be successful next season. But they desperately need him if they are to become elite.

Dante’s career hasn’t gotten off to the start that he envisioned. However, with concerns about a contract well behind him due to the lucrative deal he was signed to this summer, and an extensive opportunity to thrive, this may very well be the year that he breaks onto the scene in statement fashion.

And doing so would certainly transform Exum from a perceived expendable piece to a player who was absolutely indispensable for the Utah Jazz.