Donovan Mitchell 2019 Player Outlook
5 years agoFresh off a summer spent participating as a member of Team USA, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell returns for his third NBA season with a somewhat new-look cast around him. After large stretches last season in which Mitchell was asked to carry the vast majority of the offensive load, he welcomes aboard Mike Conley as his new backcourt mate, a move that seems prime to help the Jazz win games, but could ultimately damper Mitchell’s fantasy prospects. His offensive output took off as last season progressed, averaging 26.7 points per game following the All-Star break, while also delivering 11 20-plus-point performances during the postseason. After shooting 41.8 percent from the field during the first half, Mitchell recovered to up that number to 46.1 percent in the second half, including a gaudy 45.1 percent from behind the arc. Considering that he played alongside few legitimate offensive weapons for the vast majority of the year, his 4.2 assists per game bode well for his prospects in 2019-20. While he will theoretically be asked to do less for Utah, he remains the No. 1 option for a highly competitive club and will start the season at just 23 years old, seemingly only scratching the surface of his potential. He will unquestionably pile up points, but his fantasy ceiling will be largely determined by his ability to compile numbers in additional categories.