Season Preview: Utah Jazz

Dante Exum's ACL tear this past summer could haunt the Jazz this season unless Trey Burke has something to say about it.

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The 2015-2016 Projected Roster

Point Guards: Trey Burke, Bryce Cotton, Dante Exum

Shooting Guards: Alec Burks, Rodney Hood, Treveon Graham, Elijah Millsap

Small Forwards: Gordon Hayward, Trey Lyles, Joe Ingles, Grant Jerrett

Power Forwards: Derrick Favors, Trevor Booker, Jack Cooley

Centers: Rudy Gobert, Jeff Withey, Tibor Pleiss

The Optimistic View

The Jazz still have a lot of young guys who can step up for the loss of Dante Exum due to injury. Who knows, the Exum injury can be the opportunity for former National Player of the Year Trey Burke to prove his worth as a Starting Point Guard in the NBA. People should also remember that Jazz still have Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Alec Burks. Sophomore Rodney Hood and rookie Trey Lyles also had solid performances during the summer league.

The Realistic Expectations

The Jazz are no longer in the process of merely acquiring young talent and letting them get needed experience. They should already start showing some of that promise. The Exum injury is a big blow, but if Burke gets his game to another level, people will not even remember Exum. Hayward, Favors and Gobert are the three guys who should be consistent enough to carry the Jazz throughout the season. Tough challenge to make it to the playoffs but the Jazz have the tools to do so even in a loaded Western Conference.

Bottomline

Hayward and Favors have to go beyond being just good, solid young players. They both have to take and make the next step of elevating their games to at least all-star levels to help the Jazz win.

Bold Predictions

The Jazz will be on the 9th or 10th spot at the end of it all. They will have a good overall record. Yet, with just too many great teams on the West, their record won't be enough to propel them to post-season play.