Is Dante Exum the player the Celtics select in the 2014 NBA Draft?
According to ESPN.com's Chad Ford Australian phenom Dante Exum has decided to declare for the 2014 NBA draft.
Coincidentally, where the Celtics are positioned in the standings and playing the ESPN mock draft lottery multiple times Boston looks to be in a position in the draft where in all likelihood Exum will be available.
The most common NBA comparison that's invoked with regards to Exum is Penny Hardaway which is rarefied air considering Penny would have been an all time great had he not gotten injured.
Speaking of Penny, Exum is considered a point guard but with the Celtics he'd probably start out as a 2 or 3.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing considering Brad Stevens likes to have multiple point guards on the floor and to initiate the break with multiple players.
Exum could also eventually serve as the heir apparent to Rajon Rondo at the point once Rondo retires.
The one big knock on him is his outside shoot and ability to make jumpshots off the dribble.
However, after watching a fair amount of footage this looks to be easily correctable with just more repetitions.
Currently, despite this knock, I have Exum as number 3 on my big board:
Clint Corey's Mock Draft:
1. Joel Embiid Kansas
2. Jabari Parker Duke
3. Dante Exum Australia
4. Andrew Wiggins Kansas
5. Aaron Gordon Arizona
6. Julius Randle Kentucky
An interesting side note to Exum is his father played at North Carolina and on the 1982 championship team coached by Dean Smith with Michael Jordan.
Follow Clint on Twitter @ClintCorey
Exum has agreed to hire agents Rob Pelinka and Brandon Rosenthal of Landmark Sports Agency. Pelinka's clients include Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Andre Iguodala and Andre Drummond.
"We are excited to be working with Landmark Sports," Exum and his parents, Cecil and Desiree, said in a statement to ESPN. "Our family felt The Landmark Team represented our style and manner of treating people, and in doing businesses. We also all shared a common commitment to achieving excellence in all things. The fit is just great and we are really pleased to now begin the work."
Coincidentally, where the Celtics are positioned in the standings and playing the ESPN mock draft lottery multiple times Boston looks to be in a position in the draft where in all likelihood Exum will be available.
The most common NBA comparison that's invoked with regards to Exum is Penny Hardaway which is rarefied air considering Penny would have been an all time great had he not gotten injured.
Speaking of Penny, Exum is considered a point guard but with the Celtics he'd probably start out as a 2 or 3.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing considering Brad Stevens likes to have multiple point guards on the floor and to initiate the break with multiple players.
Exum could also eventually serve as the heir apparent to Rajon Rondo at the point once Rondo retires.
The one big knock on him is his outside shoot and ability to make jumpshots off the dribble.
However, after watching a fair amount of footage this looks to be easily correctable with just more repetitions.
Currently, despite this knock, I have Exum as number 3 on my big board:
Clint Corey's Mock Draft:
1. Joel Embiid Kansas
2. Jabari Parker Duke
3. Dante Exum Australia
4. Andrew Wiggins Kansas
5. Aaron Gordon Arizona
6. Julius Randle Kentucky
An interesting side note to Exum is his father played at North Carolina and on the 1982 championship team coached by Dean Smith with Michael Jordan.
Follow Clint on Twitter @ClintCorey
