NBA Rumours: 3 players who could leave the Utah Jazz in the coming weeks

Derrick Favors is among the Utah Jazz players being linked with a summer exit
Derrick Favors is among the Utah Jazz players being linked with a summer exit

The Utah Jazz entered the 18/19 season with the belief that they could make a deep run in the postseason. They were coming off a season in which they had surpassed expectations by eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder from the playoffs, and Donovan Mitchell was expected to build upon his excellent rookie season.

However, the Jazz struggled offensively throughout the regular season, and Quin Snyder's men were eliminated during the first round of the playoffs by the Houston Rockets. Following an early postseason exit, Utah will look to upgrade its roster this summer, and here are three individuals that could make way for new additions.


#3 Ricky Rubio

The Utah Jazz are believed to be in the market for an upgrade on Ricky Rubio
The Utah Jazz are believed to be in the market for an upgrade on Ricky Rubio

Following their failure to add one ahead of the trade deadline, a new point guard remains a priority for the Jazz this summer. The likes of Mike Conley, Kemba Walker, and D'Angelo Russell have all been linked with a move to Utah, and Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes that Ricky Rubio has no future with the franchise:

While Ricky Rubio has helped guide the Utah Jazz to the last two postseasons, he's apparently not a priority in free agency. This could mean Utah plans to use shooting guard Donovan Mitchell in more of playmaking role, as he's spent 31 percent of his career minutes at the 1.
Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker headline the free-agent point guard class, but neither has been linked to Utah. Other options include Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick Rose, Terry Rozier, Darren Collison and Rajon Rondo. Whoever the Jazz settle on as their new starting point guard for the 2019-20 season, it almost certainly won't be Rubio.

Rubio has been among the Jazz's most instrumental performers since joining from the Timberwolves back in 2017. During the 18-19 campaign, he averaged 12.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game.

#2 Dante Exum

Dant Exum has struggled to make an impact during his time in Utah
Dant Exum has struggled to make an impact during his time in Utah

Dante Exum was selected by the Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft. The guard was expected to play a major part in the franchise's future, and he started 67 times in his first two seasons with the team. However, he averaged just 15.8 minutes per game last season, and Dan Favale believes the Jazz are ready to offload the 24-year-old:

Dante Exum's contract isn't looking so hot after he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee. His injury history is scary, and he's owed about mid-level-exception money each of the next two years ($9.6 million). He's still just 23 and one of the NBA's more tantalizing backcourt defenders. It shouldn't take much for teams to absorb him as a salary anchor—which is good for the Jazz, because they figure to be among this summer's most active buyers.

Exum has two years and $18 million remaining on his current deal.

#1 Derrick Favors

Derrick Favors has been with the Jazz since 2011
Derrick Favors has been with the Jazz since 2011

Derrick Favors has been a solid performer during his nine seasons with the Jazz, although doubts remain over his ability to play in the same team as fellow big Rudy Gobert. The Jazz must still decide if they are bringing Favors back for the 19-20 season, although Sean Deveney of Sporting News believes the Lakers are interested in signing the veteran center:

Another guy who, according to sources, the Lakers have an interest in is big man Derrick Favors. The Jazz have a team option on Favors that must be exercised by July 6 or he will be a free agent.

If Utah chose to bring Favors back for the final year of his contract, the 27-year-old will earn $16 million for the season. During the 17- 18 campaign, Favors averaged 11.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

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