Draft Exum at #2?

[cinematographer]

Exum and Embiid have been 1/1a for me for a while. I'm happy with Exum at two.

[old skool]

I am also nervous about the highly touted duo of Wiggins and Embiid.

How good can those two be if they could not lead Kansas to a winning road record against NCAA opponents? I would think that two superior talents would dominate the college game. Instead, Kansas was sub .500 on the road last year. It only makes sense that splitting them up and putting them on less talented NBA teams would also result in a losing record.

[Madtown]

Exum and Embiid have been 1/1a for me for a while. I'm happy with Exum at two.

I want to see how the next month plays out. Honestly I'm good with Wiggins, Exum, and Embiid at 2. Just. Not. Parker.

I want to see how Exum and Embiid handle their dealings with the Bucks. I know it's stupid, but I do want them to want to be here. And I want to know that Embiid's back is solid. I think all 3 of them could potentially grow into superstars. Parker... meh. Maybe he'll get us on national tv once in a while.

I guess the good thing about Embiid is if he's healthy he'd be AMAZING. If not, we might be in the running for another top pick...

[El Duderino]

Exum would make me sick, we could really of wasted this season for nothing. Exum is a HIGH SCHOOL PG from AUSTRALIA, the guy dominates his competition because he's bigger and faster than them.

So did Kobe, Garnett, and McGrady in high school before getting drafted. Dirk was questioned as a youngster in regards to how he'd fair against better players

That's not to say Exum will for sure end up being as good as any of those four, but to keep screaming the same thing over and over and over about Exum mainly playing against high school caliber players and thus he simply can't be worthy of the 2nd pick gets tiring. Had Parker and Wiggins been eligible to be drafted out of high school last year, they'd have correctly gone first and second even though they'd have only played against badly over-matched high school kids. By your logic, it would have been stupid to do that because they hadn't yet played against college kids.

Scouts and GM's get paid precisely for this. To be able to evaluate and project all available talent, even if different prospect are playing against varying types of competition. Sure that can make it tougher to evaluate, but that's what they get paid to do. Not just throw up their hands and say, well this very intriguing kid has loads of talent, but he's faced lesser competition, so we can't possibly draft him over kids who played a year in college.

[ackypoo]

I am also nervous about the highly touted duo of Wiggins and Embiid.

How good can those two be if they could not lead Kansas to a winning road record against NCAA opponents? I would think that two superior talents would dominate the college game. Instead, Kansas was sub .500 on the road last year. It only makes sense that splitting them up and putting them on less talented NBA teams would also result in a losing record.

well embiid didnt play in the tourney and parker's team got bounced in the 1st round to a 15 seed.

[JayMKE]

Exum would make me sick, we could really of wasted this season for nothing. Exum is a HIGH SCHOOL PG from AUSTRALIA, the guy dominates his competition because he's bigger and faster than them.

So did Kobe, Garnett, and McGrady in high school before getting drafted. Dirk was questioned as a youngster in regards to how he'd fair against better players

That's not to say Exum will for sure end up being as good as any of those four, but to keep screaming the same thing over and over and over about Exum only playing against high school caliber players and thus he simply can't be worthy of the 2nd pick gets tiring. Had Parker and Wiggins been eligible to be drafted out of high school last year, they'd have gone first and second even though they'd have only played against badly over-matched high school kids. By your logic, it would have been stupid to do that because they hadn't yet played against college kids.

Scouts and GM's get paid precisely for this. To be able to evaluate and project all available talent, even if different prospect are playing against varying types of competition. Sure that can make it tougher to evaluate, but that's what they get paid to do. Not just throw up their hands and say, well this very intriguing kid has loads of talent, but he's faced lesser competition, so we can't possibly draft him over kids who played a year in college.

PG is a harder position to project on top of being a high schooler. I'm just not seeing it, I think some people have fallen in love with the idea of a 6'6" PG combined with the swing-for-fences mantra all of us supported when we we're picking 15. I think Embiid, Wiggins, and Parker are superior prospects that have also proven their skills on the court, they all have sky high upside as well. You don't take a shot in the dark when you have prospects like them on the board, too much to risk for a guy I personally don't believe will be a better player even if he does realize his potential.

[Profound23]

I heard this and thought if true then we need to trade down with either Orlando or Philly and get pick 10 or 12 then take whoever is left at #3 or#4.

No way do I take Exum #2 overall.

[cinematographer]

I heard this and thought if true then we need to trade down with either Orlando or Philly and get pick 10 or 12 then take whoever is left at #3 or#4.

No way do I take Exum #2 overall.

Our late-season "resurgence" and emphasis on winning made me think Exum was their guy, as he's far easier to pick at 4 than 1 or 2. But... I don't know. That's a dangerous game.

[JayMKE]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

I'd guess almost 50% of the board has a big board of 1) Embiid, 2) Wiggins, 3) Exum.

[mattg]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

Wiggins goes 1, embiid's back turns out to need spinal fusion surgery. Pretty easy scenario to take exum 2.

Also, even if exum isn't a full time PG, what's wrong with playing him at SG? He's played off ball before in fiba settings to good success and he's got prototypical 2guard size.

[JayMKE]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

Wiggins goes 1, embiid's back turns out to need spinal fusion surgery. Pretty easy scenario to take exum 2.

Also, even if exum isn't a full time PG, what's wrong with playing him at SG? He's played off ball before in fiba settings to good success and he's got prototypical 2guard size.

Parker/Wiggins/Embiid are better, that's my problem. I take my chances with Embiid's back recovering over Exum's potential.

[El Duderino]

Exum would make me sick, we could really of wasted this season for nothing. Exum is a HIGH SCHOOL PG from AUSTRALIA, the guy dominates his competition because he's bigger and faster than them.

So did Kobe, Garnett, and McGrady in high school before getting drafted. Dirk was questioned as a youngster in regards to how he'd fair against better players

That's not to say Exum will for sure end up being as good as any of those four, but to keep screaming the same thing over and over and over about Exum only playing against high school caliber players and thus he simply can't be worthy of the 2nd pick gets tiring. Had Parker and Wiggins been eligible to be drafted out of high school last year, they'd have gone first and second even though they'd have only played against badly over-matched high school kids. By your logic, it would have been stupid to do that because they hadn't yet played against college kids.

Scouts and GM's get paid precisely for this. To be able to evaluate and project all available talent, even if different prospect are playing against varying types of competition. Sure that can make it tougher to evaluate, but that's what they get paid to do. Not just throw up their hands and say, well this very intriguing kid has loads of talent, but he's faced lesser competition, so we can't possibly draft him over kids who played a year in college.

PG is a harder position to project on top of being a high schooler. I'm just not seeing it, I think some people have fallen in love with the idea of a 6'6" PG combined with the swing-for-fences mantra all of us supported when we we're picking 15. I think Embiid, Wiggins, and Parker are superior prospects that have also proven their skills on the court, they all have sky high upside as well. You don't take a shot in the dark when you have prospects like them on the board, too much to risk for a guy I personally don't believe will be a better player even if he does realize his potential.

That's fine if you don't like his chances in the NBA as much as others after watching clips on the internet. People on this forum and even paid professional scouts are going to disagree on just how good all of the players in this draft will end up being.

What i think gets tiring for many here though is you constantly ranting and disqualifying Exum mainly just because of who he has played against as if that's the end all of player evaluation, when it clearly isn't. Teams drafting in the top 5 aren't going to decide either way on Exum based on the few youtube clips available online which you can watch. They are going to spend countless hours watching every single minute of film available of the kid playing both in Australia and in international competition. They are going to watch him work out in person. The same had to be done when kids used to be able to declare after high school.

After all of that, i'm sure some front office's will end up liking Exum more than others will. This happens with all very young prospects in all pro sports. They will come to these conclusions the same way they do with guys who played 1 to 4 years in college because that's their job. Exum not playing a year in college ball should have very little bearing on why a team takes him or passes on him for another player if an NBA team has a quality front office staff because their job is to make projections off what they see, even if two players went against differing competition.

[cinematographer]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

If Embiid doesn't get picked by the Cavs, and our doctors are confident about his back, as much as I love Exum, I agree. Embiid's the guy.

1) Embiid
1a) Exum

3) Wiggins

I really, really like Wiggins. I just think Exum is a Parker/Rose hybrid.

[mattg]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

Wiggins goes 1, embiid's back turns out to need spinal fusion surgery. Pretty easy scenario to take exum 2.

Also, even if exum isn't a full time PG, what's wrong with playing him at SG? He's played off ball before in fiba settings to good success and he's got prototypical 2guard size.

Parker/Wiggins/Embiid are better, that's my problem. I take my chances with Embiid's back recovering over Exum's potential.

Are you positive they're better? Or have you just not seen enough exum against good competition to form an opinion? If it's the latter I'm guessing you never would have been able to get behind drafting high school players right? What's your opinion on high ranked high school players in America who play crap levels of competition and their team isn't a winner?

[JayMKE]

Lack of competition can mean a few things, these guys have flaws as player that you wouldn't see until he plays against guys that can match up with them in games that actually matter. I also don't like the idea of a high school PG, I think the experience and coaching that a PG gains while in college is pretty important. Now can Exum learn to be a PG in the NBA? Maybe but I don't want to take that risk when there are guys like Embiid/Wiggins/Parker on board.''

Honestly, I'd probably rank Smart above Exum, not sure why he isn't getting more love. He's only a year and quarter older, so I don't think you can say he's maxed out on his potential. I like Smart's upside as a two way player that can create/get to the FT line and be a shutdown defender. There are some questions about his shot well there some questions about Exum's shot. I think he's a lot safer pick than Exum with about the same upside. I don't really see anything special about a PG being 6'6" tho and I think that's where I differ with a lot of people.

[mattg]

A 6'6' PG gives you a lot of versatility defensively able to switch or matchup however you like, while also putting more length on small guards to limit them (which you see a lot of teams do in big moments anyway ala LBJ guarding rose or Sefolosha on CP3).

Offensively it causes similar problems for the defense. Either they have to cross match and put their 2 on your PG or change their rotation. Or you simply have a mismatch with a 6'6" guard on someone smaller that can be exploited.

[El Duderino]

Does anybody like Exum more than Wiggins here? It seems like all the Exum people are Wiggins guys as well, if Wiggins goes #1 then I don't see how you take Exum as the potential boom/bust pick when you have Embiid who is superior in that aspect in every way. There is just no way to justify taking Exum at #2.

If Embiid doesn't get picked by the Cavs, and our doctors are confident about his back, as much as I love Exum, I agree. Embiid's the guy.

1) Embiid
1a) Exum

3) Wiggins

I really, really like Wiggins. I just think Exum is a Parker/Rose hybrid.

I think worst case Exum is MCW like if he never develops a quality jump shot. Then again, even if Exum never becomes a quality jump shooter, he could be better than Williams by simply playing smarter and not taking so many dumb shots.

[TroyD92]

I hope he's not MCW considering he sucks.

[SCourGe OF GoD]

Chad Ford's supposed source(s) thinks it's a real possibility. I'd still be pretty shocked. I think the only way it is even possible is if Embiid's back looks like a chronic problem.

tight avi bro