Scouting Report: Dante Exum, PG, Australia
The allure of the great unknown has many NBA fans excited about the potential of Australian point guard Dante Exum, who is certain to be a high lottery pick despite limited experience against top competition. It's hard to blame anyone for their excitement, however, once you read about the 18-year-old and look at the limited video available. He has the body and the raw skill, so all that's left to determine is how early a general manager will roll the dice.
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 5 | 4 | 6' 4.5" | 196 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' 9.5" | 34.5 | 8' 7" | 8.5 | 10.75 |
Scouting Report
Strengths: If you were building a point guard from scratch, his measurements would be quite similar to those of Exum, who is big for the position and could be considered a plus defender based on measurements alone. Beyond his body, he has shown in Australia, international competitions and workouts that he's functionally athletic, using his quickness to get to the rim and finish in exciting fashion. The passing is said to be strong, too, and reports have suggested Exum tested off the charts psychologically and in terms of intelligence.
Weaknesses: Exum isn't yet a great shooter from the perimeter, which itself isn't a concern yet but could make him a poor backcourt fit with certain teams in the short term. The biggest concern is whether Australian high school ball, under-19 competitions and controlled workouts will translate to the NBA, but analytic measures are encouraging.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
Exum's upside threatens to throw a wrench into the assumed top-three in the draft, with the Bucks in particular said to be interested. His range begins, then, at No. 2 and it seems unlikely that he'd slide past No. 5 unless a team unexpectedly reverses course and decides Marcus Smart is a better fit. Unfortunately, Exum may not land with the Lakers as he had hoped. There could be bumps in the road as he adjusts to a much higher level of competition, but the consensus seems to be that Exum is the top point guard in the draft.