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Would Dante benefit from a month or two in the D-League?

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stitches

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2023 Prediction Contest Winner
He's been quite horrible lately and he seems totally overwhelmed and overmatched. He needs to learn how to run a team's offense and the D-League might be a good option for that. He will get good playing time there and will have much more ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities away from the spotlight and pressure to perform in the NBA on a daily basis. Right now he's playing off-the-ball-guard/spot-up shooter in limited minutes and I don't know if that helps him at all. Rudy spent some time in the D-League last year and it seems to at least not have hurt his game.

Also... for the summer. I don't ****ing care for his shooting this summer. He needs serious improvements in his ball-handling and core-strength. If he doesn't improve his handle considerably he will never be a great PG. Who is the last great PG you can remember with mediocre handle? This needs to be absolute priority.

What do you, guys, think? Make him play as a real playmaking point guard in the D-League for a couple of months or keep him with the Jazz and try to work on his issues with our coaching staff while playing NBA games every night? I can't help but feel like we are wasting time with him right now. If he was going to be a point guard, what's the point of developing him and making him play as a spot-up shooter? Right now he looks completely incapable(or unwilling) to run our offense.
 
I know people love to dog on the D-League but it seems like it's good for building confidence, which isn't not a thing. And I think Dante needs to shake loose a little bit and get a little nuts. But absolutely not "a month or two" in the D-League.

IDK
 
Yes. And I posted the suggestion in the game thread.
The problem is we have no other PG's. Clark is a combo guard. Burks was probably the emergency 3rd PG. I'd vote for sending Dante down and having him play 30 mins/per as the PG. Jazz have control over the coaching staff. Tell them Dante needs to get 10 shots per game and start penetrating. I don't care about the level of competition. Right now, Dante would struggle against anyone.

Cut E. Williams and get another PG. Then send Dante down. Snyder said he has told Dante to be aggressive, yet Exum plays like a ***** (scared little girl). Heck, maybe that's even generous. My grade school daughter isn't afraid of mixing it up. Exum needs to be given an incentive to improve. Can't be scared of hurting his little tiny ego.
 
NUMBERICA said:
I know people love to dog on the D-League but it seems like it's good for building confidence, which isn't not a thing. And I think Dante needs to shake loose a little bit and get a little nuts. But absolutely not "a month or two" in the D-League.

IDK
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I was pushing it with "a month or two" because I am extremely frustrated with him right now, but a couple of weeks wouldn't be too bad, I think. Give him 5 games and see how it goes, then re-evaluate the situation...
 
Dennis Schroeder spent some time there as well. I absolutely think that it would be valuable for him, as long as it's just for a limited time type of thing.

A.) He'd get a chance to be the Alpha there because he has more God-given talent than all the rest of the players there.

B.) Utah controls every aspect of the Stampede, so they can direct what they want from him while he's there.

C.) Dante needs some confidence, and the D-league would be a good place to get it. As mentioned before, Rudy Gobert, Dennis Schroeder, Shabazz Muhammad and Adriane Payne all have spent time in the D-league. If utilized correctly, it can be a positive experience.

D.) Jazz currently don't have enough healthy bodies to send him, but once Hood comes back and and Elliot has completed his 10-day contract, I'd look to send Dante Exum up north for a short stint and sign Gal Makel or Nate Wolters to a 10-day contract and then see where things go.

E.) Also, since the Jazz currently run the Stampede basketball operations, I'd make space available on the Idaho roster for other NBA teams looking to give their young guys or end of bench players some D-League burn. If they really want to see what Dante can do in the D-League, they should try to put as much talent around him as possible. Renting space on the team to teams that don't have a 1-to-1 affiliation would be a smart way to do that.
 
I am pretty sure the coaching staff wants him next to them every game learning. His on court experience against NBA level talent is okay and if it was just on court comparison send him to the DLeague for awhile but its more than that. I think our coaching staff is doing a good job developing players and Exum seems to be the player they are spending the most time with, I wouldn't take a second of that away. The kid is a huge project but everyone around the league seems to think he will be special its just going to take time. He probably has too much going through his head to play well right now but I think our coaching staff knows whats best for him. Also I dont think the Dleague boosts players confidence unless they are scrubs trying to make a name for themselves. I think when high picks get sent to the Dleague it is a slap in their face and tends to hurt their confidence. The Dleague is a mad house too, no real organization. I dont think our coaching staff thinks anything the Dleague coaches tell a player is useful. Its not like he needs to play more, he is worn out enough, or is new to basketball.
 
The Blue Elephant said:
Were are all the people that say that Dante should have started over Trey Burke?
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I'm glad that Burke is playing better as of late, but let's not pretend that he was one of the worst performers for awhile there and hurting the rest of the team in the process with his piss-poor shooting, defense and decision making. I'm hoping that QS can develop him and maximize his abities, but I think that at some point in the near future Dante is going to force him to the bench.
 
As long as Dante's attitude is good I say keep him with the big boys. He will become a great player eventually.
 
The Blue Elephant said:
Were are all the people that say that Dante should have started over Trey Burke?
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Isn't that just a huge knock against Burke? That for the majority of the season a kid with Exum's experience, age, and confidence level was outperforming him to the point that the fans who watch the most were calling for him to start over Burke? I was watching. Burke was incredibly awful before Minnesota, while Exum was shooting better, making good passes, and playing awesome man defense.
 
ONE LOVE said:
Remember Hayward's first year?


Yeah, nah.
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Hayward had a couple of huge games his first year. Remember Kobe complimenting him? But I still can't get over how unreal Dante's first step is. No matter how he plays this year I still think there is something incredibly special about Dante and we'll see it in about two more years. Not worried at all.
 
str8line said:
Hayward had a couple of huge games his first year. Remember Kobe complimenting him? But I still can't get over how unreal Dante's first step is. No matter how he plays this year I still think there is something incredibly special about Dante and we'll see it in about two more years. Not worried at all.
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I remembered how Dwill threw that ball at him. The Lakers game was right at the end of the season iirc?? Exum had a few nice games himself didnt he??
 
ONE LOVE said:
I remembered how Dwill threw that ball at him. The Lakers game was right at the end of the season iirc?? Exum had a few nice games himself didnt he??
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Forgot about D-will! He could be such a douche.

68th game of season. Lakers game where Kobe complimented him:

22 pts. 6 reb. 5 ast. 2 stl 1 blk 64% FG and 50% 3pt.

68 68 2011-04-05 21-013 UTA @ LAL W (+1) 0 34:34 9 14 .643 2 4 .500 2 5 .400 1 5 6 5 2 1 4 3 22 17.8 +6


He dropped 34 on Denver one week later, last game of season. I was there for that one...awesome.
 
Kyoto said:
That, sir is the question. Who do we play? We have Burke, Dante, and........................................? Hayward/Joe as a Point-forward??
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That's what I said. Who is our SG. What is the name of our PG. I don't know is the point forward.





*Abbott and Costello say hello.
 
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