The Utah Jazz seem primed for a big season heading into the 2019-20 NBA campaign thanks to a very busy summer that featured additions such as Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, but the focus remains on Donovan Mitchell.
Yes, Conley and Bogdanovic will bring a heck of a lot to the table, and Rudy Gobert is the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year, but Mitchell is the Jazz's best player, and Utah will go as far as he takes it.
Now entering his third season, it hasn't taken long for Mitchell to develop into one of the best wings in the game, as he is a dynamic athlete and a lethal scorer who can take over a game at moment's notice.
So, here are three numbers for Mitchell to target this year.
3. Make 38 Percent of His Three-Pointers
Mitchell has only been a decent three-point shooter thus far, as he has shot 35.1 percent from long distance over his first two seasons.
He made 34 percent of his triples during his rookie year, and in 2018-19, he connected on 36.2 percent of his long-range attempts, so he has shown some improvement already.
It would be nice if he continued that upward trend in 2019-20.
Mitchell will probably never be a deadeye three-point shooter, but if he can at least get to around 37-38 percent, it would greatly benefit his offensive game and the Jazz's offense in general.
2. Shoot 45 Percent from the Floor
If there is one knock against Mitchell thus far, it's his lack of efficiency.
Mitchell has shot 43.7 percent and 43.2 percent, respectively, across his first couple of seasons, resulting in an overall pedestrian true-shooting percentage of 53.9 percent.
That is actually below average, and if Mitchell wants to become a truly elite scorer, he is going to have to become more efficient.
The 23-year-old has drawn comparisons to James Harden, but the thing about Harden is that it did not take him long to become one of the most efficient scorers in basketball.
Mitchell still appears to have a long way to go before he reaches that level, as he even posting a true-shooting percentage around 56 percent this coming season would be a massive improvement.
Making 45 percent of his field-goal attempts would actually be a major step in the right direction for Mitchell.
1. 20 Points Per Game
Yes, I am fully aware the Mitchell averaged 23.8 points per game this past season, but that was without Conley and Bogdanovic, who registered 21.1 and 18 points per game, respectively, last year.
With more scorers on the roster, shots will be more spread around, meaning Mitchell won't have to average 23-24 a night anymore.
This will allow Mitchell to focus on improving his shot selection and being more efficient, as he no longer has to carry the burden of being the only true go-to scorer on the club.
It would not even shock me if Mitchell averages less than 20 points per game this season. I'm not saying he will, because I do think he will get to at least 20 a night, but if he doesn't, it would not be a huge surprise, as both Conley and Bogdanovic can drop 20 in their own right.
Unlike Mitchell's first two seasons, the Jazz actually have some viable offensive depth heading into 2019-20.
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