Many NBA pundits are expecting a major jump from the Utah Jazz this season, potentially emerging as a playoff team in the brutal Western Conference. Unfortunately for the Jazz, the high expectations will be much harder to achieve this year after an MRI confirmed Dante Exum tore the ACL in his left knee.
Exum was playing for the Australia National Team in an exhibition against Slovenia when he suffered the injury after driving through the lane, when he landed awkwardly after a jump step. He immediately reacted in pain after the non-contact injury and was immediately taken out of the game.
Jody Genessy first reported the Jazz' initial concern that Exum tore his ACL, but wanted to evaluate him back in Utah before confirming it. This injury happened just shortly after Exum recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of all but one Summer League games for the Utah Jazz.
Exum was expected to be the Jazz' starting point guard this season, in large part because of his phenomenal defense as a rookie. He will certainly miss most of the season, though his exact recovery time is unknown and a surgery date has not been set.
With Exum now out for the foreseeable future, Trey Burke now emerges as Utah's starting point guard. The 23-year-old was the ninth overall pick in 2013, but through two seasons has been unimpressive as a starter. Burke's defense has been severely lacking and 12.8 points per game as a 37.4 percent career shooter, including 32.4 percent from three, isn't exactly the makings of a starting point guard.
Fantasy Spin:
Outside of dynasty leagues, Exum is certainly no longer worth a roster spot, even in the deepest 14-team leagues. His offensive game was still largely undeveloped and this just pushes that back further as now he must spends months slowly rehabbing and working his way back. Burke is worth taking a flier on late in drafts, with the hope that an improved lineup with Rudy Gobert at center, will do more to help him. We'll have to see when the preseason rolls around if he has indeed made improvements to come close to the ceiling that made him the ninth overall pick.