3 Former players that have excelled since leaving the Utah Jazz
By Chad Porto
Royce O'Neale - Phoenix Suns
Royce O'Neale is one of those NBA players whose expectations aren't as high as everyone else. An undrafted player out of Baylor in 2015, the fact that O'Neale even made the Utah Jazz is impressive.
He spent a few seasons overseas before signing with the Jazz in 2017. He earned his spot by being a prototypical three-and-D player, averaging 38.1% from three while carrying a career average of +1.6 for his defensive box plus-minus.
After arriving in Brooklyn, his impact on the game diminished some, as the Nets weren't going anywhere. His points per game saw a bit of an increase after the move, going from 7.4 points to 8.8 points per game. Yet, the Nets struggled to stay relevant. A mid-season trade to the Phoenix Suns would shake things up considerably.
While the Suns have not set the world on fire, O'Neale has been a great addition to the team.
He's shooting better from the floor, going from 38.8% in Brooklyn to 41.7% in Phoenix, while seeing his advanced defensive metrics return to his career average. In Brooklyn, his DBPM was +1.1 and +0.8, but in Phoenix it's gone up to +1.6, giving the Suns a reliable three and D player that they've been lacking.