Dante Exum Thread

Sweet Stroke · Post #61 » by **Sweet Stroke** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:43 pm

Here's my opinion on Exum:

He has good lateral quickness and is good at using his quick first step and length to get into the paint. This is probably his best skill that will translate to the next level. However, despite having good body control he doesn't have great elevation once he gets in the paint. When he's guarded by someone smaller than him he can get that person on his hip and ride him into the paint and use his body control and leverage to score. I don't see this happening if he's guarded by a man his size, considering the guy guarding him will be stronger than him and probably elevate better than he does.

While he does get off the ground quickly, I don't see him being a match-up problem against 2's in the NBA. His court vision as a Pg is not very good. He looks down too much when making his move, and doesn't keep his eye level where it needs to be. This is something a lot of high school kids do though so this can be worked on. He has the body control and temperament to be a willing and productive passer imo. His shot looks good mechanically but he seems to only use it to set-up his slashing game, which is great and means he could be efficient scoring wise, but it's hard to tell if he can be a knockdown shooter from what I've seen.

I think if he makes the transition to PG in the NBA he will be in a position to use his size, first step, body control, and ability as a passer to be an above average PG in the league. He's not going to be a great defender unless he bulks up some, which is certainly doable considering he's still just a teenage kid. Adding some strength would make his slashing game much better also considering his great body control and ability to get to the rim and use his length effectively (against PG's).

If I'm drafting him as a PG I would consider him a raw work in progress and plan on spending a couple years just getting him accustomed to playing the point, bulking up, and becoming an efficient ball handler. I would expect to get an above average PG offensively with the ability to get to the paint at will, finish pretty well and hit the open man. He should be a good spot up shooter without the ball in his hands also based on his mechanics.

If your drafting him to be a SG, I would stay away. I don't see him doing anything at an elite level at the 2 other than getting into the paint pretty well. There aren't many successful 2's in the league with a flat 3 point shot AND who shoot under 20% off the dribble. Unless he develops a nice floater and some other skill based moves around the paint I wouldn't plan on him being a consistent scorer as a 2.

Best case scenario for him in my opinion is go to school, get with a top program with a lot of talent and learn how to be a pass first point guard for a year, while working on his 3 point shot, then enter the draft as a more complete player.

But he has no reason to do that if he's going to be a top 7 pick. As it is, if I'm looking for a PG and expect him to be able to play well within the first couple years I'm going for Smart 10 times out of 10 as you know he's going to be at least an average PG based on his elite athletic ability, size, character, and defense. Exum has a lot farther to go to reach his potential than many players in the draft IMHO. Pairing him up with someone like Oladipo in Orl would be better for him initially but I think overall would be a bad thing for his career, as he's simply not going to be a strong mismatch when going up against 2's like he would be against 1's.

Sweet Stroke · Post #62 » by **Sweet Stroke** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:53 pm

Also, apparently the mods here are Nazis that only allow you to post on the majority of the board after having been registered for 4 months for some reason . So if you disagree with me, sorry I wont be back for half a yr or so until my opinions are not censored. No point in reading the boards if your not allowed in the cool kids club where you have permission to speak.

Peace.

qwerty7 · Post #63 » by **qwerty7** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:04 am

This Bleacher Report article has a pretty good Video of Exum.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1939 ... rOxwwfs9Lt

Its good to see any footage of him because its pretty hard to come by!

Really excited that he declared!

Which team would be the best fit for him?

JCB · Post #64 » by **JCB** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:30 am

Call me crazy, but I like Exum for Boston.

GANGSTERDOG · Post #65 » by **GANGSTERDOG** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:32 am

Exum Oladipo backcourt would be sweet.
Oladipo brings the defense.

Since they are both borderline Combo guards I believe they can both average 5 assists a a game and be fine.
You would literally have to guess who's running the point and the thing I love is they can both get to the basket at will.

Exum can create better offense when he penetrates and Oladipo can finish better.

Xbox Live/PSN : Gangsterdog

Monky15 · Post #66 » by **Monky15** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:42 pm

Now that he has declared for the draft and hired an agent I was wondering if there is anything stopping him from working out for NBA teams or playing in the D-League?

Brauer · Post #67 » by **Brauer** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:45 pm

I also like him a lot better as a PG, but think he will become a really good jump shooter. Hope he gets drafted by Orlando or drops to the Lakers (even though I hate them).

EddieJonesFan · Post #68 » by **EddieJonesFan** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:19 pm

As it is, if I'm looking for a PG and expect him to be able to play well within the first couple years I'm going for Smart 10 times out of 10 as you know he's going to be at least an average PG based on his
elite athletic ability
, size, character, and defense.

He doesn't have elite athletic ability, not even close.

adamy35 · Post #69 » by **adamy35** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:43 pm

To me, Exum seems like he would perform like MCW on defense and Olidipo on offense. From what I've seen, he is able to get wherever he wants on the court. I think that will translate to the NBA. He has the lankiness and quickness to get in the passing lanes and chase down any smaller guards that might get to the lane.

As a Magic fan, I want Exum if Wiggins or Embliid are gone. I think Exum and Olidipo in the same backcourt would be a complete nightmare for any opposing team. Orlando would have tons of fast breaks and steals. They would be able to get into the paint at will with that backcourt.

tidho · Post #70 » by **tidho** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:29 pm

Kyrie and Exum would be an interesting back court.

brackdan70 · Post #71 » by **brackdan70** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:17 pm

Monky15 wrote:Now that he has declared for the draft and hired an agent I was wondering if there is anything stopping him from working out for NBA teams or playing in the D-League?

bringing his stock down. right now he is a top 5 - 10 pick. might cost him a lot of money to show too much.

Dr Positivity · Post #72 » by **Dr Positivity** » Sat Feb 1, 2014 1:31 am

brackdan70 wrote:
Monky15 wrote:Now that he has declared for the draft and hired an agent I was wondering if there is anything stopping him from working out for NBA teams or playing in the D-League?

bringing his stock down. right now he is a top 5 - 10 pick. might cost him a lot of money to show too much.

Yep, the international man of mystery thing is playing in his favor

Curmudgeon · Post #73 » by **Curmudgeon** » Tue Feb 4, 2014 2:58 am

When I watch the Exxum videos I ask myself, can he go to his left? Because he almost never does.

HeartBreakKid · Post #74 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Tue Feb 4, 2014 6:26 am

Curmudgeon wrote:When I watch the Exxum videos I ask myself, can he go to his left? Because he almost never does.

I actually think the same exact thing. I wouldn't be surprised if he could but he beats his man off the dribble so consistently that he doesnt need to go left.

I wish there were more full games available of him.

qwerty7 · Post #75 » by **qwerty7** » Tue Feb 4, 2014 9:16 am

This is some insight into Dante

Good article talks about his thoughts on the draft, on Kobe, his Work Ethic etc...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1939 ... sie-phenom

The article also mentions that his gained 17 pounds since last year. Can someone smarter then me shed some light if this is a huge gain in a short time (10 months)? apparently his up to 195lbs

Musli · Post #76 » by **Musli** » Tue Feb 4, 2014 2:20 pm

I really like Exum. I'd consider taking him as high as 2, after Embiid.
His shot looks very improved, certainly better than Oladipo's.
I think he can play PG in the NBA. He has high BB IQ and good vision. He won't be a pass first PG but you don't have to be in the current NBA. If Lillard and Irving can play PG, so can Exum.
Having a big PG is really handy. Just look at MCW's defensive impact. And Exum is quicker and longer, he just needs to put effort into D. It will be also easy for him to see over the defense. Kid is humble and he's a hard worker, he'll be fine.
Yes, he doesn't have elite explosiveness , but he has a great first step and crossover drible. For a PG, quickness is more important than explosiveness, and he makes up for his explosiveness with length.
His biggest flaw seems his left hand. He is so right-hand dominant atm, but does use left from time to time, so this seems fixable.
For me, he just doesn't seem to have any flaws that make you sweat when choosing in the top5 of a great draft. He doesn't disappear in games like Wiggins, isn't a defensive tweener like Parker, and has good length for his position unlike Randle. And I think Exum has the tools to be a better NBA player than Marcus Smart. Quickness, length, shooting over strength. I don't see Smart being able to keep up with NBA PGs, so you'd have to put him at the 2 (hurts spacing) or play him alongside a playmaking 2 that can defend 1s. (hurts defence and only Monta comes to mind).

qwerty7 · Post #77 » by **qwerty7** » Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:26 pm

Dante Exum has arrived State Side

Starting his pre-draft workouts and preparations.

He attended the Lakers v Houston game last night.

comingbacktousa · Post #78 » by **comingbacktousa** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:18 pm

qwerty7 wrote:The article also mentions that his gained 17 pounds since last year. Can someone smarter then me shed some light if this is a huge gain in a short time (10 months)? apparently his up to 195lbs

Not at all, especially considering it was likely the first time he has been on a serious weight training regime. That sort of gain is pretty regular for freshman wide receivers when they first start working out in college, which is probably the best comparison for someone his size weight training for the first time. He has the frame to add more without losing much explosiveness it looks like.

supaflash · Post #79 » by **supaflash** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:19 pm

Anyone else notice some awkwardness on his one footed leaps and his knees locking a lot when he's standing or walking around? Watch the grande finals game when he's close to the camera in the corner and when he's at the FT line. Might be nothing, but scares me a little, my knees did the same thing to the tune of two acl tears and I get this unavoidable cringe when I see anything close to it. He's crafty with the ball around the rim and doesn't always try to overpower with a dunk which is good imo but somewhat concerning whether he can finish consistently at the pro level. He's a great prospect though, I think it will take him a little while to be a full time PG. If he ends up with the Lakers and both Kobe and Nash are around that could be a really nice situation for him to develop.

GANGSTERDOG · Post #80 » by **GANGSTERDOG** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:35 pm

Great Article read. Cant believe Exum is faster than Usain Bolt that is mind boggling.

Xbox Live/PSN : Gangsterdog