Dante Exum (PG/SG, UTA) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 14-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 7% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Dante Exum had to exit the Jazz's Saturday match-up against the Detroit Pistons due to an ankle sprain, though for the moment let's discuss the 23-year old Melbourne, Australia native's progress to this point in the NBA and where he stands for the remainder of the 2018-2019 campaign as a member of the Utah back court. It would appear that he has taken a step back behind veteran European guard Ricky Rubio. Exum has currently only been averaging 7.4 points and 2.7 assists in a career-low 16.3 minutes per outing. From an efficiency standpoint, it hasn't been a whole lot better, though he is still converting at a solid 79.1% from the foul line and his albeit mediocre success rate from long-range of 30.5% on his 1.5 attempts per game is still his best mark since his 2014-2015 rookie campaign.

Having said that, there are plenty of reasons to feel good about Exum's role moving forward on the 20-20 Quin Snyder led club. His value mostly comes as a floor general, and he ranks third on the Jazz in terms of assists per 36 minutes (6.0) and assist percentage (25.4%) behind only fellow showman Rubio and Raul Neto. While he has never been much of a perimeter defender (in terms of steals) or a rebounder, he has amply demonstrated his ability to score and pass the ball since Utah's Christmas Day showdown against the Trail Blazers. In that time span he was able to contribute 11.8 points and 5.7 dimes per outing in MP ranging from 8:08 to 26:07. While much of it has remained unrealized, there is still plenty of untapped raw talent and potential within Dante Exum. When he returns from his ankle sprain, that ability translates to value for fantasy basketball managers in deeper leagues.