SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA summer leagues were created, in part, for players like Marcus Smart and Dante Exum. The first-round picks from the 2014 draft — Exum at No. 5 and Smart at No. 6 — were both considered talents that would need some refining. They finished their rookie seasons as starters, but combined they barely averaged 10 points.
Summer league is the first glimpse of rookies, but it's also a chance for young players like Smart and Exum to work on specific aspects of their games. The two made their summer debuts Monday at the Utah Jazz Summer League and showed a specific focus.