The Dante Exum Thread

[InFlames]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

[yoyojw17]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

I like that a lot!!!! And even the better part is.... Milwaukee didn't get to see it. haha

[OrlandO]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

Interesting... so far we've heard Exum's workouts described as: "went well" (Milwaukee) and "a wow" (orlando). Both positive responses. Wonder if we'll get any conflicting reports in the coming days...

[BadMofoPimp]

Does anyone have examples of great PG's in history who were Slasher type PG's who can't drive to the left and have low release poor outside shooting?

He can very easily drive left... he just finishes with his right hand. Very different from not being able to drive left at all. He shot better from the outside than Smart at FIBA despite being significantly younger and less experienced. Would he still shoot the same percentage from 3 a year later? Possibly, but it's also very possible he improved... unlike Smart who failed to improve his 3pt shooting in two seasons of college ball with a shorter line.

I am sure both Smart and Exum will be at the very least decent shooters in the NBA after 4-5 years. Thus, my main concern is living up to hype and his ability driving on the left and how that may affect his game being NBA is a much harder level of basketball than HS.

[BadMofoPimp]

Safe gets you to the playoffs. Risky gets you to the Finals.

So, what risky draft pick won championships in the past decade or since 2000?

I never said championships. I said Finals.

Just a few examples

2003
Risky - LeBron James - HS kid (Finals: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Safe - Carmelo Anthony - NCAA Champion

Lebron was a Manchild on a completely different level than any kid before or after him

2004
Risky - Dwight Howard - HS kid (Finals: 2009)
Safe - Emeka Okafor - NCAA Champion

Dwight destroyed HS putting like 20/20's back in high school. When it comes to bigs like that, Exum is not even close to what Dwight did in HS.

2005
Risky - Andrew Bynum - HS kid (Finals: 2008, 2009, 2010)
Safe - Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton - NCAA Champions

Bynum was 10th Pick in draft. Hardly a superstar spot.

2006
Risky - Rajon Rondo - Avg pg NCAA (Finals: 2008)
Safe - LaMarcus Aldridge
- Bargnani was risky too, but he just sucked.

Rojon was 21st Pick in Draft.

So, you are saying that Exum deserves to be picked higher than Rondo, Bynum etc based off video highlights of subpar teenage competition and pickup games while having glaring deficiencies in his game?

We are talking about wasting the 4th pick in the draft here, not a 8-12th pick where risk is usually taken.

[OrlandO]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/479221583379460096[/tweet]

watch him suddenly come up with news on the workout now that ford said it went well...

[Smooth_E]

So, what risky draft pick won championships in the past decade or since 2000?

I never said championships. I said Finals.

Just a few examples

2003
Risky - LeBron James - HS kid (Finals: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Safe - Carmelo Anthony - NCAA Champion

Lebron was a Manchild on a completely different level than any kid before or after him

2004
Risky - Dwight Howard - HS kid (Finals: 2009)
Safe - Emeka Okafor - NCAA Champion

Dwight destroyed HS putting like 20/20's back in high school. When it comes to bigs like that, Exum is not even close to what Dwight did in HS.

2005
Risky - Andrew Bynum - HS kid (Finals: 2008, 2009, 2010)
Safe - Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton - NCAA Champions

Bynum was 10th Pick in draft. Hardly a superstar spot.

2006
Risky - Rajon Rondo - Avg pg NCAA (Finals: 2008)
Safe - LaMarcus Aldridge
- Bargnani was risky too, but he just sucked.

Rojon was 21st Pick in Draft.

So, you are saying that Exum deserves to be picked higher than Rondo, Bynum etc based off video highlights of subpar teenage competition and pickup games while having glaring deficiencies in his game?

We are talking about wasting the 4th pick in the draft here, not a 8-12th pick where risk is usually taken.

I never said that. All I'm saying is that being "safe" and going with the safe pick doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get the best results. Risky picks/players have just as much of an opportunity to become stars. In the end, it's all about work ethic and health. Being healthy is one thing but if you're lazy you ain't going to be much, and vice versa as well.

I'm just saying. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you seem so fixated on the idea that Exum will be trash, or maybe end up being a scrub. Rob and Co. know what they're doing, just trust that they'll be picking the best prospect for us to win for the long term. Apparently Exum "wow"' 'd in the workout. Be open to it man..

[Smooth_E]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/479221583379460096[/tweet]

watch him suddenly come up with news on the workout now that ford said it went well...

Admittedly, I used to like Kyler. I used to think he was knowledgeable until I too realized that he just recycles/echos what others have said.

[BadMofoPimp]

I never said that. All I'm saying is that being "safe" and going with the safe pick doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get the best results. Risky picks/players have just as much of an opportunity to become stars. In the end, it's all about work ethic and health. Being healthy is one thing but if you're lazy you ain't going to be much, and vice versa as well.

I'm just saying. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you seem so fixated on the idea that Exum will be trash, or maybe end up being a scrub. Rob and Co. know what they're doing, just trust that they'll be picking the best prospect for us to win for the long term. Apparently Exum "wow"' 'd in the workout. Be open to it man..

I agree with you for the most part. I just don't agree with holding Exum up to Lebron, Dwight and Kobe Standards. And if so, then he surely must be held to Kwame, Darius and Darko standards as well.

It all ends up on how well his personal workouts go. If he truly does blow them away, then you take the risk over the safe bet. I am sure he has been working on his shot extensively over the past six months with personal trainers.

I just wonder how Darko and Thabeet wow'd their workouts, lol.

[Smooth_E]

I never said that. All I'm saying is that being "safe" and going with the safe pick doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get the best results. Risky picks/players have just as much of an opportunity to become stars. In the end, it's all about work ethic and health. Being healthy is one thing but if you're lazy you ain't going to be much, and vice versa as well.

I'm just saying. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you seem so fixated on the idea that Exum will be trash, or maybe end up being a scrub. Rob and Co. know what they're doing, just trust that they'll be picking the best prospect for us to win for the long term. Apparently Exum "wow"' 'd in the workout. Be open to it man..

I agree with you for the most part. I just don't agree with holding Exum up to Lebron, Dwight and Kobe Standards. And if so, then he surely must be held to Kwame, Darius and Darko standards as well.

It all ends up on how well his personal workouts go. If he truly does blow them away, then you take the risk over the safe bet. I am sure he has been working on his shot extensively over the past six months with personal trainers.

I just wonder how Darko and Thabeet wow'd their workouts, lol.

I am still scratching my head about Darko. What a mistake.

[Def Swami]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

I don't buy that who is available at #12 affects who we draft at #4. Makes no sense. If the Magic like the combination of Vonleh and Payton, who is to stop some team like the Kings from taking Payton? Just seems to risky of a ploy.

[yoyojw17]

I never said that. All I'm saying is that being "safe" and going with the safe pick doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get the best results. Risky picks/players have just as much of an opportunity to become stars. In the end, it's all about work ethic and health. Being healthy is one thing but if you're lazy you ain't going to be much, and vice versa as well.

I'm just saying. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you seem so fixated on the idea that Exum will be trash, or maybe end up being a scrub. Rob and Co. know what they're doing, just trust that they'll be picking the best prospect for us to win for the long term. Apparently Exum "wow"' 'd in the workout. Be open to it man..

I agree with you for the most part. I just don't agree with holding Exum up to Lebron, Dwight and Kobe Standards. And if so, then he surely must be held to Kwame, Darius and Darko standards as well.

It all ends up on how well his personal workouts go. If he truly does blow them away, then you take the risk over the safe bet. I am sure he has been working on his shot extensively over the past six months with personal trainers.

I just wonder how Darko and Thabeet wow'd their workouts, lol.

I am still scratching my head about Darko. What a mistake.

Maybe we should start breaking the mold and start selecting the players that make us go.... "meh"... instead and probably hope that those players will become Hall of Famers. haha...JK

[thelead]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

I don't buy that who is available at #12 affects who we draft at #4. Makes no sense. If the Magic like the combination of Vonleh and Payton, who is to stop some team like the Kings from taking Payton? Just seems to risky of a ploy.

People here were suggesting it yesterday. Makes zero damn sense. Like I said in response, what's wrong with drafting Exum and Payton? Are there not enough minutes to go around for 3 combo guards??? AA could then be used in a trade for a big man if needed (instead of reaching for one at 4 or 12).

[InFlames]

Angelo (Australia)
Who do the Magic like more exum or smart, and are they decided? I feel like there are conflicting reports


Chad Ford (1:16 PM)
There have been. They've been big fans of Marcus Smart, but I've heard neither of his workouts have been particularly strong. The Exum workout was a wow I'm told. But so was the Noah Vonleh workout. While I don't completely rule out Smart there, I think it will either be Vonleh or Exum. Some of their choice may come down to who they believe will be available to them at 12.

I don't buy that who is available at #12 affects who we draft at #4. Makes no sense. If the Magic like the combination of Vonleh and Payton, who is to stop some team like the Kings from taking Payton? Just seems to risky of a ploy.

I don't buy it either. We have absolutely no idea how the draft is going to pan out after we make our first pick. If Rob believes Vonleh is BPA so be it, but you don't let the 12th overall pick dictate what you do with your 4th overall pick.

[Smooth_E]

I don't buy that who is available at #12 affects who we draft at #4. Makes no sense. If the Magic like the combination of Vonleh and Payton, who is to stop some team like the Kings from taking Payton? Just seems to risky of a ploy.

I don't buy it either. We have absolutely no idea how the draft is going to pan out after we make our first pick. If Rob believes Vonleh is BPA so be it, but you don't let the 12th overall pick dictate what you do with your 4th overall pick.

[OrlandO]

DraftExpress and Kyler at BasketballInsiders changed their 4th pick from Smart to Exum today.

[SOUL]

SI went to Smart, however. Mannix said Smarts workouts were impressive, Ford said they weren't. Media knows nothing, news at 11.

[OrlandO]

SI was already on smart last week and they posted their latest mock before Exum's workout performance rumor... but I agree with you, these mocks just switch from one to the other depending on who is working out that week. They will probably flip a coin the day before the draft to make their final decision.

[CourtsideTV]

we are drafting exum if he is available

[OrlDave]

DraftExpress and Kyler at BasketballInsiders changed their 4th pick from Smart to Exum today.

Didn't Kyler JUST say Smart like yesterday (which was subsequently spam posted on every thread)?