The 2014 NBA Season Predictions are off and running. One of the storylines for this season is how the uber-talents of the 2014 NBA Draft will affect the teams that took them. The Utah Jazz relegated themselves to a mediocre season to position themselves in the much heralded draft class. They got 5^th place and took Dante Exum of Australia.

Critics were split on where to place the enigmatic Exum but Basketball Insiders believes he will be valuable.

"While many of his detractors will say he hasn't played against top competition playing for the Under 19 Australian team, his supporters will point to his excellent performances against many of his peers that went on to play collegiately in the same class at the Nike Hoop Summit. His shot is still a work in progress but he comes to the Jazz with a tremendous work ethic, has impressed with maturity beyond his years and will be given every opportunity to prove he was worthy of being a top pick in the draft."

A cause for alarm on the Jazz team is that their highest paid player did not even make the weak Team USA. Gordon Hayward easily got his wish for a max deal, but can he stand up to be the leader of the team?

There is plenty to be excited about in Salt Lake City but it seems like they have held on to the title of 'promising young team' for far too long. They have become lottery staples and this season will be no different especially with a crowded Western Conference.

BI projects them at the bottom of their Northwest division although they could also topple Minnesota who start the season with a lot of question marks. OKC Thunder, Portland Trailblazers and the Denver Nuggets could all enter the playoffs and would place better than Utah.

The Jazz will play the waiting game again. They won't be there forever but the question is how long. Basketball Insiders attempt to answer:

"Right now, there's an opportunity for a core group of guys to show they can take the necessary leap from good to great. The potential is there and it's part of the reason of why the Jazz drafted Dante Exum over a more proven college star like Marcus Smart, who appeared to have a lower ceiling. This is the life of a small market team in the NBA, where landing that big free agent fish doesn't come easy. The true answer to this question will be revealed two or three years from now. In the meantime, it's time for the Jazz to see what they have in their young guys and who is worth building around going forward."