Most of the offseason talk surrounding the Utah Jazz is about the improvements of Donovan Mitchell and the acquisition of Mike Conley Jr. However, the team actually has someone who plans to make a name for himself next season.
Incoming third-year forward Royce O'Neale wants to take his game to the next level by making a strong impact as one of Utah's top shooters and defenders.
O'Neale told Tony Jones of The Athletic that he aspires to be recognized as a player who can make a big difference on a nightly basis even though he's not holding the ball that much — like some reputable veterans such as Danny Green and DeMarre Carroll.
“Guys like Carroll and Green, they are able to make a mark on the game without having the ball much,” O’Neale said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. This has been a good summer in terms of working on my weaknesses. It’s been good being in SLC with the coaching staff and a lot of the players.”
Offensively, O'Neale isn't expected to do much, though his 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc will definitely help the Jazz spread the floor. Defensively is where he can really be effective, and Utah is hoping that he can further improve on that department because he's set to guard the best scorers from opposing teams.
Those are things that Carroll and Green have done during their careers. They are efficient role players who can do all the little things for their teams. O'Neale is not going to be the star with the Jazz, but by doing his part, he knows that he can help the team achieve something that they have never accomplished: winning a championship.
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