SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz are off to rocky start in the 2016-17 NBA season. Boasting a sub .500 record through just three games, it’s not time to hit the panic button, but some early trends are emerging that should be both encouraging, and concerning for Jazz fans.

On a positive note, two of the Jazz three offseason acquisitions appear to have plenty left in their veteran tanks to play serious roles on what should be a playoff team this year.

George Hill, who the Jazz acquired in exchange for the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft has been stellar in the team’s first three appearances. He’s led the team in scoring in two of the three games, has been a leader on the floor, and may have single-handedly beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Jazz's loan victory. After just three games, Hill looks like a player the Jazz may have to plan to retain when he becomes a free agent this coming summer. He’ll demand a significant financial commitment, but appears worth the investment.

Joe Johnson, while not as spectacular as Hill, has also been a bright spot for the Jazz. Johnson is the team’s second leading scorer (15.7 ppg), and showed in the second half of the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers that at age 34, he still has the ability to take over games, scoring 27 points after the break.

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Johnson leads all Jazz rotation players in effective field goal percentage at 59 percent, including 50 percent from beyond the 3-point line, on over three attempts per game.

But while the team’s key additions are living up to their billing, key young players have been inconsistent, or slow to contribute early in the season.

Rodney Hood has had several bright spots this season, including a stellar 26-point outing in the season opener, but he’s been at times inconsistent. Against the Clippers, Hood contributed just five points on 10 field goal attempts.

While Hood is the team’s third leading scorer, the Jazz need him to take a significant leap in this, his third season in the NBA. Hood has shown glimpses of brilliance throughout his career but lack of consistency has been an issue. Hood is averaging a career high in points (15.3) early in the season, but career lows in field goal, 3-point and free-throw percentage. Improvements across the board for Hood would bode well for the Jazz’ playoff hopes.

After a surprisingly productive rookie season, Trey Lyles has yet to find his role on the new-look Jazz. Lyles is averaging just six points per game in three outings, with 38 percent field-goal shooting, third worst on the team.

In Derrick Favors reduced role coming back from injury, the Jazz have turned to Lyles to provide a scoring punch in the frontcourt and have received little in return. Lyles is expected to make a significant jump from year one to year two, but his production has yet to bear that out.

But Lyles isn’t the only player struggling at the power forward position. Combining Lyles, Favors, and veteran Boris Diaw, the Jazz frontcourt is shooting a combined 27 percent from the floor and 21 percent from the 3-point line. In what looked like the team’s deepest position before the season, the Jazz lack of production from the power forwards has been the roster’s most glaring issue.

The Jazz will surely get a boost with the return of Gordon Hayward, which should come before the end of November, and Favors should return to the starting lineup shortly. At that point, fans will get a better look at the roster Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey assembled.

Until then, the team will continue to need to high-level contributions from Hill and Johnson, while they hope to get more from Hood, Lyles and the power forward position.

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