This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Danté Exum felt some nervousness as he tried to knock off the rust in front of some 3,000 high school students Friday afternoon. In a scrimmage at Granger High School, Exum's first public action since his ACL injury, the 20-year-old Aussie saw his first two shots clang off the iron and a third, a 3-pointer from the corner, miss the rim entirely.
"There's a lot of stuff that I can get better at," Exum said as he assessed his performance.
Right now, he needn't rush it.
Exum's injury in August of last year cost him the season and left the Jazz in the lurch, missing their starting point guard from a season ago and suddenly desperately thin at the position. It took a year, but general manager Dennis Lindsey has turned his team's weakest link into one of its strongest.
On Friday, the public's first glimpse at this iteration of the Utah Jazz, newcomer George Hill showed off the pieces of his game that have his coaches and teammates optimistic about playing past mid-April.
At one point in the abbreviated game, Hill gave fans a glimpse of his defense, turning a loose ball into a dunk on the other end. He crossed over Exum and fired up a step-back jumper. He pushed the ball baseline and kicked to an open teammate in the corner for 3. And Hill himself found his touch from beyond the arc, where he connected on about 40 percent of his looks last season with the Pacers.
"He adds another weapon for us," forward Gordon Hayward said.
This time a year ago, borne out of necessity, Raul Neto was on his way to becoming the Jazz's starting point guard. But as he prepares to begin his second NBA season, Neto knows something else is in store.
"I don't know what's gonna be my role on the team yet," he said this week.
Shelvin Mack, acquired at the trade deadline in February, showed Jazz fans what they had been missing at the position last season, instantly taking over as the team's starter and notching the Jazz's only double-digit assist performances of the year. But Mack had been a third point guard elsewhere in his NBA career, a role he will likely return to this season.
A season ago Hill averaged 12.1 points and 3.5 assists per game in Indianapolis, despite seeing his role in the offense decreased.
But while he may not be a household name or a flashy talent, Hill is arguably the Jazz's best point guard threat since Deron Williams, a big guard who can defend, play off the ball, knock down open shots and take pressure of Hayward in the starting lineup. He should also provide helpful veteran leadership for Exum, Neto and Mack.
In the case of Exum, it took less than one practice before Hill had taken him under his wing.
"I did a layup to the basket and kind of made it more difficult of myself," Exum recalled. "He came straight over and said, 'Hey, it would be so much easier if this is what you did.' To come in straightaway, first day, not knowing me at all and be able to come in and correct me, that's the kind of guy, player, that I need."
Hill, Mack and Exum — all 6-foot-3 or taller — have the size to be able to defend shorting guards, which could allow them to play together in the backcourt.
That will give head coach Quin Snyder options he didn't have last season while relying on a two-man rotation featuring the undersized Trey Burke and Neto. It could also mean a minutes crunch at the position.
That, however, is the least of the Jazz's worries.
"All that matters is trying to win the game," Hill said. "It doesn't matter who starts or who plays when. But when you're called to go into that game, you've got to give us everything you've got."
This time around, the Jazz point guards should have a lot more to give.
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
Getting to the point
George Hill
6-foot-3, 188 pounds
Career averages • 11.3 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds
Dante Exum
6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Career averages • 4.8 points, 2.4 assists, 1.6 rebounds
Shelvin Mack
6-foot-3, 203 pounds
Career averages • 6.1 points, 2.2 assists, 1.3 rebounds
Raul Neto
6-foot-1, 194 pounds
Career averages • 5.9 points, 2.1 assists, 1.5 rebounds